Friends reunited to help provide backbone to Owls’ revival

The former Cardiff City central defenders have been reunited at Hillsborough and in their three games together the Owls have won twice, including with a first clean sheet at the 20th attempt.

Former boss Dave Jones brought in Dutch defender Loovens last month but he failed to receive international clearance for the trip to Blackpool, a defeat which cost the manager his job.

Former Celtic and Real Zaragoza defender Loovens, 30, made his debut at home to Leicester City, Gray’s first game in charge, and has instantly rekindled his partnership with Johnson.

While Connor Wickham may have been grabbing the headlines with five goals in seven games, Gray believes the no-nonsense defending of Loovens and Johnson has also been key to Wednesday’s recent revival.

“We have ended up frustrating teams, who have ended up putting the ball in the box, going long, which is food and drink for Roger and Glenn,” said Gray.

“They know how to head and clear it.

“But the pleasing thing is it’s not just them, we have defended as 11, and attack as 11.

“Credit to them on Saturday, they all put their bodies on the line. When that ball came into the box they were willing to take a few stitches, to put their head in where it hurts.

“I am a great believer if you have football intelligence and read the game – and both Roger and Glenn have got that in abundance –you don’t have to be the quickest player, you just have to be in the right place when you are defending. It’s the organisation around them as well, they pull people round.

“The pleasing thing is they enjoy defending, they don’t mind getting hit with the ball and putting their heads in where it hurts.”

The Owls face Wigan tonight – for the first time in a league meeting – knowing a point can take them out of the bottom three in the Championship.

Free agent Loovens is on a month-to-month deal, while Johnson’s loan from Wolverhampton expires next month and Gray is keen to retain them both.

“Roger’s loan ends on January 2 and we are trying to have dialogue with Wolves to try and extend that,” said Gray.

“Roger is enjoying himself. As it happened he hadn’t been playing much football. We brought him here – credit to Dave (Jones) who brought him, he knew the qualities he had – and when Reda (Johnson) has been injured, Rogers has been the captain. He is very vocal on the pitch and very vocal in the dressing room.

“We want to extend his loan, but he is not our player and that will be down to Wolves. When they are not your players you just hope you don’t get that phone call to call them back.”

Friday marks Gray’s first anniversary at Hillsborough, when he joined a side embroiled in a similar relegation battle to this year. He believes injuries mean achieving safety this time around would surpass last season.

“It is probably harder now regarding the treatment room,” said Gray when asked how this term’s challenge compared to that facing the Owls 12 months ago. “There doesn’t seem to be any silver lining coming from there, whereas last season Dave (Jones) had 22 or 23 players to choose from.

“At this moment in time, it is a case of shutting down one or two players who have knocks and strains and putting them back out there again.

“With the window being shut, you are worried the phone is going to ring and you are going to lose your loan players as well.”

The Owls have three centre-halves on the long-term injury list in Kamil Zayatte, Anthony Gardner and Martin Taylor. Also out are Lewis Buxton, Joe Mattock, Michail Antonio, Giles Coke and David Prutton.

“This time last season I came in when they had been struggling for results,” said Gray, who joined Jones’s backroom staff on December 20, 2012.

“The year has gone quickly, but hopefully we can have the same success in the second half this year that we did last season. We have two games – against Wigan and Bournemouth – and they are two winnable games. There are lots of points to play for.”

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Last six: Sheffield Wednesday LLLWLW Wigan LLLLLW.

Last time: Sheffield Wednesday 2 Wigan 0; January 30 1976; FA Cup.

Referee: K Stroud (Hampshire).