Former Norwich and Sheffield Wednesday man explains what Owls can learn from table-toppers

Wednesday academy graduate Jon Newsome, who made 62 league appearances for the Canaries before rejoining the Owls in 1996, has watched on as his former clubs have experienced contrasting fortunes in recent seasons.

The hosts, relegated from the Premier League last year, look set to welcome back the likes of Emi Buendia and Teemu Pukki from injury, two of the stars that impressed in the top division last time out.

Neither cost the Canaries a great deal and it is a commitment to clever business and slow and steady long-termism that Newsome believes Wednesday can learn from the table-topping side.

“They’ve been building for this long before Daniel Farke came to the football club,” he said. “They’ve had a run in the last eight or 10 years where they’ve built, they’ve got a good academy, it’s a very friendly family-orientated club.

“They’ve consolidated and they’ve never over-exposed themselves, where we know Sheffield Wednesday have done in their want and desire to get to the Premier League.

“You’ve got to do that with structure and a plan. Having a gamble is alright when you win, when you lose it hurts and that’s what has happened at Hillsborough and we’re paying the consequences of it.”

Academy graduate Todd Cantwell is among a number of Norwich first teamers that will miss out on the clash and while the Canaries were criticised in some quarters for choosing not to spend big in an attempt to stay in the top tier, their policy of keeping hold of their top names is one that looks to be paying dividends despite a midweek defeat to Luton.

“The Premier League last year just wasn’t for them,” Newsome said. “They didn’t invest and the step up is so big, it showed.

“But their overall plan was to believe in Daniel Farke and if they were to get relegated, he was always the man to push and take them back up again.

“It’s similar to the way Burnley and other clubs have done it and look at them. It’s the club with these sorts of plans that end up sustaining it.”

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