Sheffield Wednesday: First interview with new signing Michael Hector

New boy Michael Hector headed to Sheffield Wednesday on the train with his dad for company to seal his August 31 deadline-day Hillsborough loan deal.
Michael HectorMichael Hector
Michael Hector

An earlier talk with Owls boss Jos Luhukay had set the wheels in motion and the international defender travelled north to complete the formalities knowing the season-long switch would go through.

The 26-year-old centre-half, who could be in the squad for Saturday's Championship home clash with Stoke City, already had a connecting line with Luhukay because of the pair's experiences in Germany.

Michael HectorMichael Hector
Michael Hector
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Luhukay had led German second-tier sides to promotion while London-born Hector had spent time in the country on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt in 2016/17.

"I spoke to the manager," Hector said on his first day of training on Thursday with his new club following international duty with Jamaica. "Him working in Germany, the way he spoke, his philosophy on the game ... it interested me a lot.

"When he came over (to Wednesday) in January, I knew of him, having played in Germany myself.

In action against the Owls for Hull last seasonIn action against the Owls for Hull last season
In action against the Owls for Hull last season
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"He is a big name in German football and had done very well in bringing teams up from the second league. And those team have sustained (their presence) in the Bundesliga.

"It was a relaxed move. I knew the deal was already sorted. I'd heard about it a few weeks previously. It was just all about getting it signed. It's a massive club, with massive history. I can't wait to get going."

Hector joined Chelsea from Reading three years ago but has yet to make a senior appearances for the Premier League giants and has since spent time on loan back at the Royals, in Frankfurt and with Hull City.

Although he hasn't given up on his dream of playing for the club he supported as a boy, he accepts his future could lie away from Stamford Bridge and isn't ruling out putting down roots in S6.

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"It's about finding the right place and the right team for me to grow into," he said. "You never know what will happen come the end of the season.

"Right now, I am only here on loan, and just want to work hard. For me, it's very important to build a foundation. I kind of did that at Reading for 18 months (before signing for Chelsea). I have a young family and it would be beneficial for us to have a base."

Wednesday head into the Stoke encounter after three successive victories and Hector watched his new side beat Reading 2-1 at the Madejski Stadium in their last outing on September 1, before the international break

"The momentum the team has now is very good," he said. "The Reading game, they played very well. The football was sometimes very, very good. 

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"For me it's a privilege to work with the manager. His philosophy is he wants to play from the back. He thinks that I can help the team. He says it's a good changing room, with some good, hungry young players coming in this season.

"I try and play out from the back. I can be a little aggressive as well, which you need to be as a defender. I try and play and help build up attacks. But if I need to get nasty, I can be horrible sometimes. I have a bit of both."

Hector endured a difficult season last season at the KC Stadium as Hull struggled to preserve their second-tier status and the man on the train signalled his intent to put matters right with the Owls.

"At Hull, it was a tough time for me personally," he said. "I didn't perform as I should have and the team didn't perform.

"Coming back to the Championship, I have a point to prove that I can perform at this level."