Yan Valery makes fitness admission as he shares verdict on 'really exciting' Sheffield Wednesday project
Yan Valery popped up the winner to seal Sheffield Wednesday a 2-1 win over Peterborough United on Saturday at the Weston Homes Stadium.
Sheffield Wednesday right-back Yan Valery has admitted he is starting to feel like his old self after playing catch-up with his fitness at the start of the season.
Valery reported back for pre-season much later than his teammates after representing Tunisia at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico during the summer. He started each of Tunisia’s three games at the tournament before they were knocked out at the first hurdle.
Despite not reporting back to Middlewood Road for pre-season training until the final week of July, meaning he missed the Owls’ pre-season tour of Hungary and Austria, he was thrown straight into the starting XI for the season opener against Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup first round at Hillsborough just over a week later.
However, he was absent for the Owls’ League One opener against Leyton Orient the following weekend before producing an out-of-sorts performance against Bradford City just under a week later, which prompted questions about his Wednesday future amid ongoing transfer speculation at the time.
But having stayed at Hillsborough beyond the deadline, the former Southampton man looks set to play a key role in manager Henrik Pedersen’s plans this season. And after scoring the winner in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Peterborough United at the Weston Homes Stadium, the defender has admitted his fitness levels are now in a good place.
“It was a bit tough because, obviously, I came back and didn't really have a pre-season,” Valery told the Owls’ YouTube channel. “So, fitness-wise, it was a bit harder at the start.
“But now, after playing games, I am starting to feel better and better, fitter, and I can do what I want on the pitch. I think, especially against Bradford, I was a bit frustrated because I felt like I was not as fit as I wanted.
“Now I feel better and better. I'm happy because I just want to help the team.”
Valery’s winner against Peterborough sent Wednesday to the top of the League One table for the first time this season, having won four of their opening five matches. Following the completion of Arise Capital Partners’ takeover in May, Valery believes a ‘really exciting’ project is taking place at Hillsborough.
Valery added: “I'm happy to be part of this project as well because I think everyone can feel around the club that it's a really exciting project with the new owners.
“I'm really happy to be part of this project, and I really hope this season we keep doing these types of performances, keep winning games and, yes, hopefully get promoted.”