Lloyd Owusu is known in Sheffield for one moment in particular - but today his football allegiances are split.

A mention of the World Cup to Lloyd Owusu delivers the Sheffield Wednesday cult hero mixed emotions.

The striker, nine years retired from a career that ended up taking him to Australia, looks back at his time in the sport with no regrets. But there’s one match above all that stings; and may well have cost him a place on the grandest stage of all.

In April 2006 the then-Brentford forward was playing well and priming himself for a spot in Ghana’s squad for the World Cup in Germany a few weeks later. Called up for a friendly with Stuttgart as something of a decent outside bet to steal a place, he tore his groin midway through the 1-1 draw and was out of contention for a tournament in which his side reached the last 16.

“That was my World Cup dream over,” he said. “I was gutted. The Ghana FA let me come and I came out to watch a couple of games in Germany. I never felt like I was guaranteed a spot, but I was playing so well and at the time the coach was very impressed with how I was going with Brentford.

“I feel like I would have been a great outsider chance to be in because I gave the team different where we had some established names like Asamoah Gyan and Matthew Amoah. These guys were playing at some good levels, but they were more like that dropping short and pick up the ball where, back in them days, I was giving you something different.

“So I think I could have been an outside chance for it. But I was gutted not being involved. You feel like if you were, your career could have gone in a different direction. But at the end of the day, it's part and parcel of football. You've just got to deal with what comes of you at the time.”

Owusu had never really placed international honours on his radar. It was in the seasons after he burst into the Wednesday consciousness with a derby goal seconds into his Owls debut that his form earned the attention of the country of his heritage. A call came in to Reading, his next club, and he collected four caps.

Without much warning, he was on a plane and thrown into a training session with the likes of Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Asamoah Gyan and Stephen Appiah. It’s an experience he loved.

“My first ever training session when I went with these guys, we were in France doing a warm-up and we're doing a keep ball session - no word of a lie, these guys are so superior. You couldn't even get the ball off them,” he chuckled.

“I was in the middle chasing, chasing. I stopped and just applauded because they were that superior, the technical ability that you see. And when you see it live, the touches, the way they zinged the ball around and just one touch; bang, bang, bang. To be honest, it was a pleasure to be involved in it and to watch.”

His Ghana side take on England this evening at the World Cup hoping to take the point that would all-but guarantee them a place in the knockout rounds for the third time in their history. They beat Panama 1-0 in the opening round of fixtures having overcome injury headaches and the replacement of their manager as recently as March.

“It's been a topsy-turvy build-up to the whole competition, with Otto (Addo) getting sacked prior, and then Carlos (Quieroz) coming in,” Owusu said. “It sort of derailed everything in regards to the cohesion. But within the team now, from what I've seen on socials and here within the Ghana community, the team's very much a brotherhood. That's the thing about the Ghanaian squad. It's all about togetherness and looking after each other. So I think they're doing well there.

“Look, England are strong, strong favourites, let's not beat around the bush. But the Ghanaians could always surprise you, though. You know what I mean? Technically, we've got some great players, we've got some good engine rooms in there.

“But I just feel for me, with the Ghanaian boys, I just feel like sometimes it's a bit of ill-discipline. When they just do silly things to give away silly free kicks at the wrong times, et cetera. But if England are up to their proper gameplay, they should win. But like I said, Ghana could weather the storm for some time.

“And the front, whoever's playing come Tuesday night, whoever's playing can probably destroy England's backline. Because no disrespect to England's backline at the moment, it’s not like it used to be with the likes of your John Terrys and your Rios. It's not as strong. So we could count it and cause a little upset. But I think England will win the game.”

So where do the loyalties lie for a Slough-born Ghana international? Owusu chuckles. “Oh man, it's everyone at work saying this,” he grinned. “I guess I'm 50-50. I was obviously born in England and played for Ghana. Like I said before, I think England are going to win - but Ghana could pose a little surprise.”