'Loved it' - Shea Charles makes Sheffield Wednesday admission ahead of Hillsborough return
Shea Charles will return to Sheffield Wednesday with Southampton on Saturday afternoon - and he has nothing but fond memories of his stint in S6.
Former Sheffield Wednesday loanee Shea Charles has admitted he “can’t wait” to return to Hillsborough for the first time with Southampton this afternoon.
The Northern Ireland international spent almost all of last season on loan at Hillsborough, helping Wednesday earn a respectable mid-table finish in the Championship.
The 22-year-old arrived on loan from the Saints a few days before the end of the summer transfer window and ended up spending the remainder of the season in the Steel City, making 44 appearances, chipping in with one goal - a last-gasp winner in a 2-1 victory over Coventry City at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Southampton were, of course, a Premier League club last term and felt Charles would benefit from storing a full season’s worth of Championship football under his belt before returning to St Mary’s and attempting to become a regular starter.
Unfortunately for him, a serious hamstring injury has limited him to just 22 appearances so far this season, meaning he has not been able to get into a consistent and fluid rhythm. Since returning after almost three months out against Sheffield United last month, he has made just one Championship start, meaning there are no guarantees he will be named in the Saints’ starting XI this afternoon.
Nevertheless, the midfielder, who was immensely popular during his time in S6, is looking forward to returning to familiar surroundings.
Charles relishing S6 return
"I can't wait," said Charles, as quoted by the Daily Echo. “I know it's been a difficult season for those boys and fans and everyone around the club, but I've been looking forward to it.
"You know, I was looking forward to the game back in November, but unfortunately missed it injured, but now, yes, I can't wait to go back.
"I knew going into last season that I was going to need more before going to play in the Premier League, so I had to go out on loan.
"I remember speaking to my brother, Pierce [Charles], about how Wednesday was an option. Pierce was buzzing about it.
"I ended up going to Wednesday and having a really good season there. I absolutely loved it. The boys were so good and took me in so well.
"That was an incredible season for me personally, and we probably, looking back at it, could have done better than what we did."