Sam Hutchinson: "That's what we need.." Barry Bannan on potential return of Sheffield Wednesday hero

Sheffield Wednesday skipper Barry Bannan has made no secret of the need to bring new faces into the squad before the end of the transfer window and after the addition of Andre Green knows a place they can start.
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Former Owls midfield man Sam Hutchinson is without a club after negotiating a way out of his time at Cypriot side FC Pafos and has been strongly linked with a return to Hillsborough.

The 31-year-old left Wednesday last summer after falling out of favour under Garry Monk and as The Star understands, is still open to the move despite the departure of Tony Pulis, who was the initial driver behind the deal.

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One Wednesday man who knows Hutchinson well is club captain Barry Bannan, who played alongside the former Chelsea man for several seasons.

Sam Hutchinson and Barry Bannan spent five years together at Sheffield Wednesday.Sam Hutchinson and Barry Bannan spent five years together at Sheffield Wednesday.
Sam Hutchinson and Barry Bannan spent five years together at Sheffield Wednesday.

And speaking to The Star, Bannan said that while he hasn’t personally spoken to Hutchinson about his future in any great detail, he believes a move to bring him back would be a smart one.

“I haven’t spoken to Sam a lot really,” he said. “There are targets out there and if we can get them it would be brilliant for the club.

“Sam is a top player, if he does come in it will obviously help the club and us as players. It would be a good surprise, to be honest.”

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With only Massimo Luongo and Joey Pelupessy particularly experienced at playing Hutchinson’s ‘midfield anchor’ role, Hutchinson would provide renewed steel in the squad.

And it is his versatility and attitude that former Scotland international Bannan believes would offer Wednesday a new dimension.

He said: “He can play in numerous positions, Hutch, he is good in the middle and he can play at centre-half.

“But he’s a winner. That’s the biggest thing, getting people in that have got that willingness to come in and fight for the club because that’s the position we’re in and that’s what we need at the minute.

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“I think it would be a good bit of business if we can get it done.

“Like I said, I don’t know anything about it, but he’s a top player and a winner. If he comes, brilliant.”

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