Sheffield Wednesday's Tom Lees on Championship return: “Everybody respects that more now…”

It’s been two months since the Owls played their last game – a forgettable 5-0 defeat at Brentford – and while Tom Lees is itching to get back out on the field, he thinks that things have to be done the right way, making sure that it’s completely safe to get going again.

Lees, who is now one of the most long-serving players in the current crop of Wednesday players, is remaining level-headed about the ongoing Coronavirus situation, admitting that there’s a new level of consideration within the club that goes beyond just their teammates.

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Speaking exclusively to the Star about a potential return, Lees said, “Not to jinx it, and touch wood, but we’re highly unlikely to be too badly affected if we were to get anything – we’re young, healthy guys – but you never know what people have got going on at home, and I think everybody respects that a bit more now.

“Somebody might have a new-born baby, or someone pregnant, or live with somebody vulnerable, people now take that into consideration a bit more. I don’t think anybody is fighting against a return, it’s just about making sure that it’s as safe as it can be before we go back.”

“You don’t want guys in the squad who are nervous to go back because they’ve got this or that going on at home,” he added. “That wouldn’t be a good feeling, and I don’t think anybody should be put through that. Hopefully things can be at a safe level and we can return. We’ve just got to be sensible and follow the advice, because for the sake of a week or two earlier, what’s that in the grand scheme of things?”

Lees does, however, think it would be harsh on those who have worked hard to get into the position they’re in only to see things voided or promotion cancelled, admitting that he’d be ‘devastated’ if it was the Owls in that position.

He said, “If we were in the shoes of Leeds or West Brom, and we’d done what they’ve done through the season, the hard work from preseason to now, I would feel absolutely devastated if promotion got taken away from us. The players have earned it, but equally it’s about a balance.”

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Lots of potential solutions have been bandied about over the past few weeks about how to settle the season, though up until now there has been no final decision made on what is the way forward.

Lees, has been a regular under several different Wednesday managers now since making the move from Leeds United, and is desperate to rekindle his previous form whenever he gets the chance and football is given the green light once again.