Carlisle United v Sheffield Wednesday: Owls ‘goal machine’ Madine focuses on promotion

Madine, dubbed ‘The Goal Machine’, is the leading marksman in League One so far this season with 11 goals from his last 12 games.

His performances have also started to attract interest from Premier League scouts who are scouring the market for possible investments ahead of the New Year transfer window.

Megson said: “We know exactly who is here, which club they are coming from, and how often they have come.

“There are a lot of scouts coming from bigger clubs but Gary is under contract for quite a while, he seems to be happy here and is doing well so I have no worries.”

Thanks to support from club owner Milan Mandaric, the Owls will be under no financial pressure to sell the 21-year-old who is playing a key role in the club’s promotion push.

However, Madine’s transfer value will undoubtedly have risen sharply since his £800,000 arrival from tonight’s opponents Carlisle United nine months ago.

Speaking ahead of his return to Brunton Park, Madine confirmed that he is focused on the task of winning promotion with the Owls.

He revealed that he is now on better terms with manager Megson and is also working hard to improve his conduct off the field.

Shortly before his move to Hillsborough, Madine was ordered to serve 250 hours community service by a judge at Carlisle Crown Court over an assault in a city centre pub.

“The gaffer and I didn’t see eye-to-eye when he first came in but now we are on good terms,” he said. “I have worked hard, and I think he realises that I am an honest person.

“I am maybe not the best professional off the pitch but I am working on that too,” he added. “At Carlisle, maybe I was out too much, I got into too much trouble, and I was out with the wrong crowds.

“I feel like I am growing up and now, if I go out, I go out with the lads, the older professionals, and they keep my head down if I’m getting a bit lairy.”

Asked to comment on his future, Madine made it clear that he was not looking to rock the boat at Hillsborough and still had three years and nine months remaining on his contract.

“I just want to get Sheffield Wednesday promoted,” he said. “I have never scored so many goals so quickly and I am loving life, loving the area, and everything to do with the club. Long may that continue.

“I just have to take things one step at a time. If I keep scoring goals, hopefully it will get Sheffield Wednesday out of this league and that makes me a Championship player. If we do the same again next season, who knows?

“I am settled now and I just feel happier in myself,” he added. “The gaffer has shown a lot of confidence in me and I am taking that onto the pitch.

“Sometimes, as a striker, you go into the penalty box thinking ‘I don’t know whether I am going to score’ but right now I am thinking I will put any chance I get into the back of the net.”

Madine spent nearly five years with Carlisle prior to joining the Owls and was given a hero’s welcome on his first return in a Wednesday shirt last season.

Tonight, he is hoping to get a similar reception and is vowing not to celebrate should he score.

“I am really buzzing about this game,” he added.

“It’s the club where I grew up, a club I still love, and where I know a lot of people. The reaction I got from the fans last season was great. I am happy to go back again but I won’t be celebrating if I score.”

Striker Clinton Morrison, meanwhile, will not be involved in tonight’s game but is back from a short loan spell at Milton Keynes Dons.

The two clubs have been unable to agree terms over an extension of the deal because Wednesday are not prepared to pay 50 cent of his wages.

“We are not trying to stop anybody doing anything but Clinton plays for Sheffield Wednesday and if we decide that he’s not going out on loan. that’s what will happen,” said Megson.

“When Sheffield Wednesday go for a player, we have to pay top dollar. When we are negotiating with an agent over a player’s wages, we also have to pay top dollar. They are not going to be allowed to do anything differently to ourselves. That’s the way of the world.

“A deal that suited Sheffield Wednesday a month ago doesn’t suit me now so we will just have to wait and see what happens.”

Defender Julian Bennett will return to the Owls’ side tonight as a replacement for suspended leftback Reda Johnson.

The Owls are sitting third in the table – just two points behind leaders Charlton Athletic – and go into the game on the back of a seventh consecutive home win over the weekend against Colchester United.

Opponents Carlisle were beaten 4-0 by Charlton at the weekend and are currently three points adrift of the play-off pace in mid-table.

Former Owls midfielder Graham Kavanagh is now assistant manager of the Cumbrian club and Greg Abbott, the former Bradford City player, is the man in charge.

Last six games: Carlisle LWDDWL, Owls WWWWDW.

Last time: Carlisle 0 Owls 1; February 26, 2011; League One.

Referee: P Tierney (Lancashire).