Breaking: Owls land Kavanagh on loan

Kavanagh, a Republic of Ireland international, joined Johnson for the Owls' training session at Middlewood today, and both are set to make debuts against Hull at Hillsborough tomorrow.

Manager Brian Laws said he was delighted with the two deals: "Both are good, experienced players who are good organisers and show leadership.

"They will also be good in our dressing room. The signing of new players can rub off on our players, freshen them up and help to recover confidence."

The pair will be with the Owls until October 28.

Kavanagh had been linked with Leeds and Sheffield United as well as Wednesday in recent weeks, though Bryan Robson has now denied an interest.

Laws is keen to add experience to his team, and both Johnson, 34, and Kavanagh, 33, fit the bill.

Kavanagh has played for Middlesbrough, Stoke and Cardiff and was a 500,000 buy from Wigan a year ago.

Johnson, who been signed until October 28, started at Notts County and has been an established player at Birmingham and Derby, as a left-footed centre half who can also play at left back.

Kavanagh had been talking of a desire to win back his place at Sunderland, where he has been down the pecking order this season after twice having knee surgery in 2006-07. He came through a Reserve game this week.

He said: "The fitness is really good. I've played seven or eight games now and it is improving all the time.

"I'd like to think I'm part of the manager's plans. I certainly don't want to leave the club and I'm looking to play a big part. I've played for the reserves and I feel the fitness is improving all the time. "

But he also admitted he first spoke to manager Roy Keane a month ago about the possibility of going out on loan to sharpen him up for a Sunderland challenge.

Keane said today: "Kav needs games, and I have to be fair to him. We have agreed he can go to Sheffield Wednesday. It will be good for him to get a few games under his belt."