Sheffield Wednesday v Brentford: Van Aken out to improve on impressive Owls debut

Sheffield Wednesday’s recent £4m acquisition may have admitted to being blown away with the atmosphere in his first sampling of Hillsborough fare on Saturday – an occcasion which saw Wednesdayites herald his name in song – but it was not quite the perfect introduction either.

Granted, van Aken possessed enough elegance on the ball to see where Carlos Carvalhal was coming from in his post-match assertion that the young Dutchman is one of the best ball-playing defenders who he has worked with in his coaching career.

But judging by his own utterances, the former Holland Under-21 international is clearly his own harshest critic and has exacting standards.

It is surely no bad thing and is something that Tom Lees, the man who van Aken lined up alongside in the heart of the back four against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, has also prided himself on over the years.

It is something to be wholly encouraged in a modern footballing world when many players shy away from fronting up.

Accomplished in possession he may have been, but van Aken admits that his performance was not without its flaws. Without mentioning to it specifically by name, he was perhaps alluding to his part in Forest’s weekend goal when he was guilty of diving in a little on Ben Osborn, when he netted in his side’s 3-1 loss.

Offering his take on his competitive Owls bow, van Aken said: “It was a good performance and I was happy that I was in the team. (But) I think I did a good job, but not a great job.

“I think I can play better than I showed on Saturday. I need to improve and develop and I think I can show more than I showed on Saturday.

“All the parts of the game; in possession, but also in defending. You have to make the right decisions at the right time. That comes with experience, but the more you play, the more experience you get. I hope I will get more experience here.”

On being told about Carvalhal’s words of praise after the game, the former Heerenveen player, 23, added: “I didn’t hear what he said. But of course, that is nice to hear.

“But I think I am not the best centre-half in possession. I need to improve on that, I think.”

One thing that van Aken was unequivocal and effusive about what his first positive matchday experience of lining up and starting his first league game at Hillsborough – which is something that he is likely to cherish for some time to come.

It clearly has whetted his appetite for more, too.

Van Aken, the latest Dutch player to don the blue and white of Wednesday, with the alumni including the likes of Gerald Sibon, Regi Blinker and Wim Jonk, said: “After the game, I spoke with my family and heard from them that the fans were screaming my name.

“But during the game, I didn’t hear it because I was focused on the game. But when I saw the video, I did not expect that it would happen after one game, directly. For me, it was amazing.

“This was more than I ever expected. My girlfriend was there, but unfortunately, my parents were on holiday. Next time, I hope that they will be there.”

Meanwhile, Carvalhal has revealed that he felt threatened and frightened for his safety after being sent to the stands during Wednesday’s recent Carabao Cup second-round tie at Bolton.

The Owls head coach was fined £4,000 after clashing with Wanderers counterpart Phil Parkinson and handed a two-match touchline ban – after both were dismissed late on after an altercation following Barry Bannan’s challenge on Filipe Morais.

Carvalhal was also engaged in a heated discussion with a steward after the incident.

Carvalhal, who will serve the second game of his touchline ban tonight, said: “What happened that day was very bad. I felt fear and threat in that football game. I did what I had to do on the pitch to protect my players.

“What I did was not correct and they gave me a two-game ban. I accept absolutely what happened on the pitch.

“When they put me in the stand, it was really very bad.

“I will protect myself after that moment. I received a lesson after what happened in that game.

“If something happens again, I will take a precaution.

“I don’t want anyone to touch me and I will try to be near the police to put myself in the directors box. I hope there is not a next time, but I will take police protection in that situation.”

Wednesday will assess the fitness of Kieran Lee, Steven Fletcher, Jack Hunt and Ross Wallace this morning.

Last six games: Sheffield Wednesday DDWLDW; Brentford LDLWDD.

Referee: J Simpson (Lancashire).

Last time: Sheffield Wednesday 1 Brentford 2, February 21, 2017; Championship.