Old pals' act proving final piece in the jigsaw for Sheffield Wednesday

Step forward Gary Hooper, with his seamless link-up play between the midfield and forward line having provided a much-needed catalyst to the club’s promotion quest at an exquisite juncture.

Hooper has proved a talismanic force in the club’s run of five successive wins this calendar month – with the Owls currently enjoying their best sequence of league form in a decade.

The former Celtic man is also proving that good friends away from the pitch can make for perfect partners on it with the chemistry between himself and Steven Fletcher having been a particularly big factor in the Owls’ strong April statistics.

The pair have caught the eye in the recent home wins against Derby and Newcastle, with both contributing a goal apiece in the most recent victory over the Rams, with Hooper setting up Fletcher’s leveller before firing the winner himself.

It is somewhat revealing that Fletcher’s recent purple patch of four goals in his past four outings has also arrived in tandem with Hooper and the Scot admits that his fellow forward is providing that much-needed final piece in the jigsaw for the Owls since making his return from injury at Rotherham on April 4.

Fletcher, who moved into double figures for the season with Wednesday after his goal in the 2-1 success over Derby, said: “I love playing with him (Hooper). He is a great link-up player and a good finisher.

“I went up for a header for the second goal and I could not see where he was and then the next minute, I have seen the ball flying past me into the net and it was a great finish.

“He is a great lad. It is his presence about the place and on the pitch. He holds the ball up and is strong and you do not actually know how strong he is until you stand next to him.

“He can knock big guys off the ball and it is good we have got him back.

“We have a good friendship off the field as well and I think that does help. We are close friends and that helps on the pitch. He and wee Baz (Bannan) are my good friends.”

You have to go back to the winter of 1993 for the last occasion that Wednesday won six league matches in a row and it is something that the present-day Owls will emulate if they triumph at Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich Town on Saturday.

But far more important in the grand scheme of things is the fact that a victory would clinch play-off participation for the second season running for Carlos Carvalhal’s side.

Portman Road may not have proved a particularly happy hunting ground over the years, but in a season when the Owls have ended a few hoodoos, they wil head to Suffolk with confidence.

Recently, Wednesday won their first match at QPR’s Loftus Road’s home in nine attempts since 2000, while their weekend win over the Rams was their first against them in 18 attempts.

First-team coach Lee Bullen said: “We have broken down a few walls and hoodoos over the last few weeks.

“It is the first time in 10 years we have won five in a row and it is the first time since 2000 we have beaten QPR away from home.

“It is also the first time in 17 games that we have beaten Derby.

“We will see how it goes on Saturday with Mick McCarthy.”