The man Sheffield Wednesday believe can offer a big advantage over their Championship rivals as coronavirus confusion continues

Former Manchester United and Wales fitness guru Tony Strudwick was brought to the club by Steve Bruce last summer and has quickly transformed the style and delivery of fitness and conditioning coaching at Wednesday’s Middlewood Road training base.

But all training is now taking place at home via bespoke fitness programmes designed by Strudwick and his staff. With no way of knowing when the 2019/20 season will resume attention has turned to the conditioning of players across the league, who are now into their sixth week without football.

And Strudwick’s expertise has been vital in the break so far, according to Owls assistant boss Lee Bullen.

“Tony coming in was huge for the football club,” he said, speaking exclusively to The Star. “His experience of being at a club like Man United and working with the Welsh national team is great, particularly with what's going on.

“Ultimately there are basic parameters on how much fitness work you can do and other clubs will have people doing that job, but the one thing that Tony does have is the experience of having time at the biggest club in the world.

“The time he's had there, it breaks the monotony of just runs and sprints. He brings that expertise of what the players need and when they need it.

“As much as anything, it's the psychological side of things, being stuck at home. You need that bit of variety and he's been great along with his staff.”

Bullen said he has kept in close contact with the players throughout the suspension of football along with all the coaching staff.

He said: “It's a case of managing those types of things and letting them know that if there's anything we can do to help them out, me, the gaffer or from a coaching or medical point of view.

“We spoke together as a group and made sure there's a support network for them generally. Every single player has their own individual circumstances.”