Barry Bannan, Tom Lees and Adam Reach offered new Sheffield Wednesday contracts

Ahead of Saturday's South Yorkshire derby against Barnsley, the Welshman again stressed the importance of adding to a squad not fit for his purposes in the January transfer window, but he is also working to keep Barry Bannan, Tom Lees and Adam Reach at the squad beyond the end of their contracts this summer.

“Barry, Leesy and Reachy have all been offered new contracts,” he confirmed. “That’s something that the chairman is dealing with.”

Bannan has already indicated he wants to stay beyond this season, irrespective of what division the club is in.There will however be changes in mid-season with the Owls bottom of the table and yet to win under Pulis.

“I’ve sat down with Downesy (head of recruitment David Downes) and the recruitment team and spoke to them about what we need,” he confirmed. “There has to be incomings and outgoings in January.

“It’s no good just bringing players in that are no better than what you’ve got. You have to bring people in who are going to give everyone a lift. We want people who we know will come in and improve what we’ve got.

“There are players that we need, that we have to try and get, and that’s my responsibility. It’s my job to convince the powers that be of the situation. I have that on my shoulders.”

Pulis only has two fit players, Josh Windass and Jordan Rhodes, he considers genuine centre-forwards and given the lack of game-time the latter has had, it is fair to say he is not seen as a fundamental part of the future plans. Rhodes is another out of contract in the summer.

The squad was rebuilt in the summer around Garry Monk's preferred three-at-the-back formation but Pulis has more often favoured a 4-5-1, and prizes wingers.

Julian Borner will be assessed after a head injury sustained in Tuesday's 2-0 defeat to Huddersfield Town, but the signs are positive.

“There’s no fracture there or anything,” revealed Pulis. “We were a bit concerned, but that’s okay. It’s just a case of seeing what he’ll be like. He’ll train today (Friday) and we’ll take a view then.

“We can’t force him to play, so we’ll see how he feels.”

Pulis wants to see a reaction from Tuesday's disappointing defeat.

“We’re coming into this on the back of a poor result, so it’s important to roll our sleeves up.

“(Huddersfield) wasn’t acceptable, and they know that. We’ve got a chance to put that right.

“The majority of the lads have really pushed and pulled together. I’m desperate to get the best players on the pitch as quickly as we can, and then manage them in training.”

Centre-back Chey Dunkley is edging ever closer to making his Wednesday debut after joining in the summer when he was still recovering from a broken leg suffered with Wigan Athletic. The futures of on-loan pair Jack Marriott and Aden Flint are less clear.

“Chey has trained all week and trained really well, so he’s getting closer,” confirmed Pulis. “(Dominic) Iorfa has trained really well the last couple of days.

“I’ve not even seen Jack. Him and Flint have gone back to their mother clubs, and whether we’ll see them again we’ll have to wait and see.”

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