Exclusive:Word from behind the scenes at Sheffield Wednesday after much-needed week off
It would be easy to look in from the outside and excuse a Sheffield Wednesday devoid of motivation heading into the final weeks of a long and arduous season.
But one player riding the wave of opportunity the club’s plight has made clear that after a break in proceedings, there is plenty left to fight for after players returned to Middlewood Road with more of a spring in their step than before.
Young midfielder Jarvis Thornton has impressed with his efforts in recent weeks, making the step from shirt-filling substitute to a player keeping senior figures from the starting line-up. The 20-year-old South Yorkshireman has produced some confident performances and looks well set to stick his hand up for involvement in a ground-up Wednesday rebuild.
Players returned to the club’s training base on Sunday having been given a week off from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day training following the 3-1 defeat at Hull City the previous weekend. Individual programmes were curated and followed, but after a whirlwind run of games that took its toll both mentally and physically, the break was much-needed.
“We've played a lot of games, obviously from probably Christmas all the way up to like just before the break and so it's been nice to have a rest physically and mentally as well before going to the last few games,” Thornton told The Star. “Obviously some lads were playing a lot of minutes, feeling tired and tight and now they feel a lot more fresh and we’ll have a lot more energy going into the last few games. So, it should be good.”
Manager Henrik Pedersen has highlighted the pursuit of six points that would take them back into the black as a key target between now and the end of the campaign, along with the hunt for a first home win of the season. Beyond that, he believes there is a responsibility to gather on-field momentum heading into the summer.
Owls academy product Thornton has started each of Wednesday’s last three matches and has risen to mass senior involvement since the turn of the year. Though relegation is long since confirmed and uncertainty still hangs over the club’s future, he believes there is plenty of source for motivation before the final day on May 2 - not least individually.
“I want to play as much as possible just to improve going into next season,” Thornton continued. “But I think as a team, try and pick up as many points as we can, as many good performances as we can and then take that into next year. Start next year with some confidence for the fans, for the club and put us in good spirit for starting next year.
“For me, it’s just about playing my own game, keep improving as games go on, listen to the manager, listen to what he wants me to do and then go into next year just try and keep my shirt the best I can and keep around the squad and then just hopefully do enough for the manager to see that I could help next year as well.”
A further motivation is of course based on giving Wednesday’s fanbase something to cheer about. The noise levels from the Owls end has perhaps even risen as the season has become more intolerable from a football viewpoint and sold out away allocations are expected up until the final whistle blows on their Championship status.
For Thornton and other youngsters used to playing youth football in front of a handful of diligent spectators, it’s been an experience to behold. He goes back to Carabao Cup action in August when reflecting on the impact of Owls fans, though it’s carried on throughout the season.
He said: “Bolton was my first real experience playing in a stadium with fans in it and yeah, honestly, I couldn't let it sink in. I think there were only two stands open there, but the Wednesday fans filled out the away end and just seeing them behind you and when we scored it was incredible. As games have gone on, it’s just carried on like that.
“They've been behind us all the way and you can’t thank them enough. Some of the away days on Tuesday nights - Norwich away, Millwall away - they're still coming in the numbers and being louder than the home team and yes, it's unbelievable to go there when there's not much confidence in the club and then they're still showing up in the numbers and trying to get it going and get us over the line.”