Reading v Sheffield Wednesday: I've got to do my stuff with Owls to earn Scotland call, says Barry Bannan

Barry Bannan hopes to earn a return to the Scotland fold by continuing to impress with Sheffield Wednesday (Picture: Steve Ellis).

Bannan’s outstanding performances this term for Sheffield Wednesday – who have confirmed the signing of Gary Hooper on a three-and-a-half year deal for a fee of around £3m – have not gone unnoticed north of the border with a recall likely to guild a fine campaign for the 26-year-old.

Airdrie-born Bannan is keeping grounded with his priority being to keep the Owls in the play-off positions, but acknowledges that donning the Scottish jersey again would be welcome.

Bannan, capped 20 times by his country – with the last one coming against England at Celtic Park in November 2014 – said: “I have spoken to them in the past couple of weeks and I have had emails and stuff about the games coming up.

“I don’t know the squad yet, but I have had contact from them and hopefully that’s a positive thing.

“I spoke to the gaffer, Gordon Strachan, as well a while back when we played at Rotherham and we also had a chat last season when I missed out on a squad.

“He told me I needed to score more goals and get in the box more as I was trying to make things happen rather than finish things off and he wants midfielders who are going to get into the box and score goals.

“He said after the Rotherham game that I was doing that and to keep it up.

“I am enjoying my club football at the minute and I am playing every week and we are winning and I am just concentrating on that.

“Hopefully I am getting watched and can do enough to get back in there because when I was in there, I really enjoyed it.

“You are representing your country, no one wouldn’t. But I have got to do my stuff here every week and hopefully it will be good enough to get back in there.”

Bannan and his team-mates travel to Reading today and head coach Carlos Carvalhal believes the hosts are better than their current league position suggests.

He said: “It will be a tough game. They are in a false position. They are trying to fight for the top-six positions.

“They won in the FA Cup, coming back from 2-0 down. They have good players who can make a difference.”