What Julian Börner had to say about former Sheffield Wednesday teammate Lucas Joao – and how he wants Hillsborough to become a fortress ahead of Reading visit

Börner has been revitalised over the last few games, putting in a number of solid showings for the club as he rekindles some of the form that saw him become firm fan favourite at Hillsborough.

Now he faces arguably his most difficult test of the campaign so far as he goes up against a former teammate who is flying for Reading, and who is currently the third highest scorer in the Championship.

“It’s a tough game,” he admitted to the media after the 0-0 draw with Stoke City. Adding, “Lucas played here, I was with him for four weeks I think before he moved. He’s a good player in the offensive line… He has a good technique, good speed, but I’m looking forward positively.

“It’ll be a tough job, but we’re at home. At home we don’t want people taking points here, that’s the next step for us - the target for the future. Hillsborough is our home… We need points and that is the main thing - I hope Wednesday we can pick up three points.”

To stand a chance of winning, though, Wednesday need to start scoring some goals, and Börner insists that it’s not just on the strikers to find the back of the net.

He said, “We have been strong at the back.. We have not been losing and this is good, a positive thing but we need goals. That responsibility is with us all, from the back, defenders, midfielders and strikers, it has been a period where we haven’t scored enough.

“But we are one team, we are defending well but when we have chances in the game we have to score and Wednesday is the next chance.”

It’s likely that the German will start alongside Tom Lees at the heart of Tony Pulis’ defence at Hillsborough tomorrow night, and the primary goal will be simple – stop Lucas Joao.

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