What Sheffield Wednesday striker Sam Winnall had to say on his goal-scoring return to action

Wednesday striker Sam Winnall has expressed his relief after a successful return to action following an eight month injury lay-off.
Sheffield Wednesday striker Sam WinnallSheffield Wednesday striker Sam Winnall
Sheffield Wednesday striker Sam Winnall

The 27-year-old marked his eagerly-anticipated comeback in style, scoring the only goal in the Owls Under-23s victory over Crewe Alexandra at Hillsborough today.

Winnall, who suffered a serious cruciate knee ligament injury while on loan at Derby County last season, registered in the 28th minute, expertly turning in Jack Stobbs' pinpoint delivery from the right flank.

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"It was great to be back," Winnall told The Star. "To be honest, I was more relieved. It has been a long eight months without playing and being on the pitch.

"To actually prepare for the game, get a run-out and get back to feeling like you are doing your job was great.

"It was a relief to come through unscathed and it was nice to get a goal."

Winnall played the opening 45 minutes and was a lively figure in attack. He came within a whisker of scoring a second on the stroke of half-time but Crewe goalkeeper David Richards  tipped his left foot strike on to the post.

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Winnall, who has been troubled by a calf problem in recent weeks, said: "I must admit I was rusty to start with.

"It takes you a while to remember what the pace of a game is like.

"I feel as if I felt my way into the game and obviously I took my goal pretty well. It was nice to just be back out there and feeling sharp. Hopefully in the next few weeks I will get my sharpness higher and higher."

He refused to put a timescale on when he will be ready for first-team selection.

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"I don't know; it is hard to say because it depends on results and everything else that goes on at the football club," said Winnall. "At the end of the day, I'm concentrating on getting myself fit.

"I feel as if I'm getting very close now."

Meanwhile, Wednesday have sold-out their 2,800 ticket allocation for the trip to Birmingham City on Saturday, October 27.