Sheffield Wednesday suspension kills hope of ‘battle of the buddies’ in Norwich clash

As it has happened, Julian Börner won’t be wearing a blue and white one either.

The German was sent off for a clumsy challenge on Reading’s George Puscas before the half-hour mark on Saturday and so will serve a one match suspension, ruling him out of the clash with table-topping Norwich City.

It prevent a battle with his best friend, Canaries midfielder Marco Steipermann, who was instrumental in Börner choosing to sign for Wednesday on a free transfer in 2019.

Speaking to The Star in his first media appearance as a Wednesday player, he said: “Because of Marco, I watched the Norwich games every week. I speak to him three times a week – we’ve been friends for 15 years.

“I was a little bit anxious about a different language, country and culture, but he told me I must give it a go. He said English football was unbelievable and that it was better over here in the UK than in Germany.”

He also revealed how close he came to signing for the Carrow Road club.

“Two years ago [Norwich manager] Daniel Farke called trying to sign me,” he said, “I didn’t sign because my child had just been born over in Bielefeld and he called me the day after she was born.

“It would have been a big step for me at that time, it would have been too difficult, so I stayed in Germany.”