Axed Sheffield Wednesday captain Tom Lees determined to prove his worth

The Owls centre-back struggled in the second half of last season, like many of his team-mates, and was in and out of Garry Monk’s team.

The 29-year-old was replaced as club captain in the summer, Barry Bannan taking over the armband, and Lees seemed to face an uncertain future.

But the former Leeds United defender has started three of Wednesday’s first four games of the new campaign – the Owls are yet to concede a goal in any competition – and Lees is determined to prove the doubters wrong.

“The manager came to me in pre-season and we had a really long chat,” said Lees, who has chalked up over 200 appearances since arriving at Hillsborough in 2014. “After the lockdown, I tried to come back with a clear mind, refreshed, positive, and come back to show that I am here to fight for my place.

“I think he (Monk) recognised that and saw a difference in me. We had a long chat and he had his reasons for making the decision he wanted to make.

“Obviously it’s not a nice situation. It was something I was proud of, you relish it, and it’s a good thing to have (the captaincy).

“For me, these things happen in football. I am not the first person it’s happened to and I definitely won’t be the last.

“I can either let what’s happened be the story of me and my career, be the player that had the captaincy taken off him and never recovered, and that’s the way his career petered out.

“Or I can be the player that came back from it, and show people why I have done what I have done in my career, why I have played so many games, and why I was captain.

“With the boys, I don’t think it makes a difference, I am exactly the same. I think it is important I carry on the same as when I was captain.”

Lees certainly looked back to his best in the 0-0 draw against Watford on Saturday, throwing himself into blocks and tackles, as part of a new-look back three alongside Dominic Iorfa and Dutchman Joost van Aken.

Monk may have only had a short summer, but the transformation from last season is already clear to see.

In too many games last season, the Owls would be pedestrian in the first 45 minutes at Hillsborough, almost waiting for something to happen.

But against Watford, who were plying their trade in the Premier League last season, the Owls employed aggressive, high-tempo pressing which left the visitors penned in for large chunks of the first half.

The pressure brought mistakes from Watford, Izzy Brown pouncing on a loose ball to set Josh Windass free, but the Huddersfield Town product and former Rangers forward failed to test Ben Foster.

Wednesday have been working hard on set-pieces, and twice Chelsea loanee Brown picked out his team-mates without reward.

First Iorfa headed wide from six yards, and then in an almost identical situation, Brown’s delivery from the right wing found Lees but his header smashed against the foot of the post.

In between those two chances, Wednesday were denied a penalty when Windass went down under a challenge from Christian Kabasele but referee Jarred Gillett waved play on.

“A stone-wall penalty” claimed Windass.

As the match progressed, Wednesday were unable to maintain their high pressing game and allowed the Hornets to come into the contest.

Substitute Stipe Perica was thwarted by a super save from Cameron Dawson – virtually a spectator in the opening 45 minutes – before the Owls goalkeeper followed that with another block to thwart Tom Cleverley.

Yet, even in stoppage time, the Owls could have grabbed victory, substitute Liam Palmer crossing, but Brown heading wide with the goal at his mercy.

“We are frustrated because we could have come in at half-time with two or three goals,” said Lees. “I don’t think we got our rewards for how good we were in the first half.

“But we kept a clean sheet against a good side, got a point. The difference between last season is that I think we would have lost that game then.”

Lees added: “We are frustrated but I think it shows definite progress.

“The lads are so desperate to win, to do well, I think we are almost trying to do too much at times.

“I don’t think we were ever going to keep up the intensity of the first half, we were so high-energy, but that’s what we want to be this season.

“That’s how we want people to see us, that type of team who puts people under pressure and makes them make mistakes,” he added.

“It’s about having that identity as a team.

“We will not get carried away, it’s just a start and we just need to keep building on it.”

It is not only Lees who is enjoying a new lease of life at Wednesday.

Before Saturday, the last time van Aken played at Hillsborough was December 23, 2017 – Carlos Carvahal’s final game in charge.

His Owls future looked bleak due to loss of form and injury, and he spent last season playing in the German second division.

But the 26-year-old - who has made just 17 league starts since signing from Heerenveen in August, 2017 - has grabbed his chance under Monk, starting both league games.

“When Joost came to the club everyone could see the ability he has,” said Lees. “But you see it in football, sometimes you can have that knock to your confidence.

“It’s just been a difficult time for him, with injuries and stuff like that. But the attributes he has got have never been in doubt. He’s tall, strong and good on the ball.

“The manager has obviously given him that bit of belief and confidence and I think you can see in the way he is playing.”

The challenge now for Lees, van Aken and the Owls is to build on this impressive start.

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James Mitchinson