Sheffield Wednesday talisman offers fitness update after taking injection to get him through the season

The 30-year-old Scotland international has struggled with a groin injury for much of the season but took the course of action last month with the advice of club doctors.

He came off the bench in defeat against Reading on February 15 but has otherwise played every minute in the league since sitting out of defeat ay Blackburn in early November.

He has worn the Wednesday armband several times in the absence of club captain Tom Lees. Only three Championship players have created more chances this season.

Asked how his fitness is following the injection, Bannan said: “I feel fine. I struggled the couple of weeks before the Birmingham game, then I had an injection and I feel a bit better in myself.

“It was getting to the point where I really needed it, I couldn't play otherwise and I would've needed to take a few weeks out.

“We're in the situation where you don't want to be doing that at the minute you want to be helping. So it was just a case of speaking to the doctor and managing it.

“We decided that was the way to go and touch wood it's been better in the last few games.”

Bannan could well take some managing heading into another three-game week for Wednesday, with Nottingham Forest, Bristol City and West Brom in wait.