Coventry City v Sheffield Wednesday: Survival the key to Varney's Owls stay

Varney has spent the majority of the last 12 months on loan to

Sheffield Wednesday and is due to return to parent club Derby County at the end of this season.

However, speaking ahead of today's trip to Coventry City, Varney admitted he would be interested in staying if the club avoids

relegation to League One.

"I have loved every minute of my time at Wednesday and, if anything was to become available, it would be a chance I would love to take," he said. "But the ball is not in my court.

"I still have another couple of years left on my contract at Derby so – if I am wanted there – I will try my best to get back involved. We will just have to see what happens in the summer."

Varney's late winner against Watford in midweek lifted the Owls four points clear of the relegation zone but manager Alan Irvine thinks three more wins are needed from the remaining seven games.

"All the teams at the bottom are capable of winning games," said Irvine. "It won't be a low total that secures survival, it will be one of the highest there has been a for a number of years."

Today's game at the Ricoh Arena pits Coventry's Richard Wood against his former club for the first time since his 500,000 move four months ago.

With Wood gone, Darren Purse and Mark Beevers have formed a blossoming partnership at the heart of the Owls defence.

Purse, 33, has clocked up over 500 appearances during a career with clubs including Birmingham, West Bromwich Albion, and Cardiff City. Irvine says his experience is rubbing off on Beevers who, at the age of 20, is still learning his trade.

"Centre-halves do get better with age," said Irvine. "A lot of young centre-backs make 'last- ditch' tackles but, quite often, that is because they are standing in the wrong position in the first place. Darren is helping Mark improve his game."