Lavery delighted to commit his future to Owls

Stuart Gray hopes rookie striker Caolan Lavery can learn from Sheffield Wednesday’s derby defeat to Doncaster Rovers.
Sheffield Wednesday's Caolan LaverySheffield Wednesday's Caolan Lavery
Sheffield Wednesday's Caolan Lavery

The 21-year-old – fresh from signing a new two-and-a-half year contract 24 hours earlier – was substituted early in the second half at the Keepmoat Stadium with the Owls trailing to Chris Brown’s goal.

Canadian Lavery has scored braces against Leeds United and Birmingham City despite operating as a right winger.

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But, like many of his Owls team-mates, Lavery had a poor game at Rovers and Gray took him out of the firing line after 50 minutes.

Ahead of tonight’s Hillsborough visit of play-off chasing Brighton, Owls head coach Gray believes Lavery can learn from the experience. “He will be disappointed with the way he performed, but he is going to have ups and downs,” said Gray.

“He just has to realise that when it’s not working for you –and not just him – you just have to work.”

On his new contract, Gray added: “I’m delighted for Caolan. He was out of contract at the end of the season and we didn’t want that to drag on.

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“We have another game at Brighton on Tuesday and we are doing well at home. We have got to get back to winnings ways.”

Lavery returned from a loan spell at Plymouth Argyle to become a regular in Gray’s rejuvenated Owls team and the striker was happy to have sorted out his Hillsborough future.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have committed my future to Sheffield Wednesday. It’s a massive, historic football club with a brilliant fan-base,” he said.

Wednesday looked jaded at Rovers, their fifth game in 15 days, and Gray hopes tonight’s return to Hillsborough – where they had previously picked up back-to-back wins against Birmingham City and QPR – will give his side a lift.

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“On the back of playing so well against QPR, it was maybe one game too many for some,” said Gray. “I can’t fault the effort and commitment, it was probably just the quality on the ball in the end.”

Last six games: Sheffield Wednesday WLLWWL, Brighton & Hove Albion LWDWWL.

Referee: A Taylor (Cheshire).

Last time: Sheffield Wednesday 3 Brighton & Hove Albion 1; February 2, 2013; Championship.