O’Grady has Premier ambitions after fortunes revive with Owls

O’Grady today returns to a division that, not so long ago, he believed was one he might not grace again.

Nottingham-born O’Grady has spent the past six seasons in Leagues One and Two, and it is fair to say not too many of them have been happy affairs.

Rochdale’s 2010 promotion success – which owed much to his 22 goals – was, of course, a high, as was helping Sheffield Wednesday pip Steel City rivals United to second place in last season’s third tier.

But intermingled with these triumphs were several lows, including being a member of the Rotherham United and Stockport County squads relegated from League One in 2007 and 2009, respectively.

He was also at Rushden & Diamonds during the season that ended with demotion from the Football League.

No wonder, therefore, that O’Grady, fresh from his two-goal salvo on Monday night as the Owls beat Oldham Athletic in the Capital One Cup, is itching to be involved in today’s opening-day trip to Pride Park.

“Everyone is looking forward to Derby,” the 26-year-old told the Yorkshire Post. “Our fans will turn out in big numbers, as they did at Oldham when it felt like we had more fans than the home team.

“The fans spur you on when times are tough, which is what it was (on Monday) when we were 2-0 down. Going to Derby will be great because they are also a team with big support and the atmosphere should be cracking.

“We have to go in feeling confident, as we are with the Championship as a whole.”

O’Grady’s own confidence will have been done no harm by the events of Monday night at Boundary Park.

Brought on just before the half-hour mark in place of the injured Gary Madine, the striker played a key part in the stunning comeback that saw four goals scored without reply as the Owls went through to the second round, where they will meet Fulham at Hillsborough.

He said: “Coming back like that was important as after some decent results (in pre-season), it would have been a shame if we had spoiled it by getting knocked out.

“I realise the cup can mean nothing in terms of the overall season. If you lose in the first round, it doesn’t mean you are doomed in the league. But it was still nice to get a nice start as we can now build on this and take the win into Derby.

“If we had lost, we wouldn’t have got too down but we still needed to show what we are made of after that first half. The last half-hour was the Sheffield Wednesday of last season.

“Smaller teams are always up for it and we had a few games last year that were very tight. But, over 90 minutes, we showed we were stronger.”

Wednesday’s return to the Championship after two years in the third tier means O’Grady is also back at a level that he thought might elude him for good.

He added: “The Championship is a league where a lot of the teams in it have been in the Premier League over the past 10 years. There are a lot of big games in this division and that is what I have been working for over the past six years. To get back to the Championship and to play for a big club.

“I am definitely not going to let this chance pass up. I want to thrive on it. I have been in League One and Two for quite a while now. At times, I did think maybe I was doomed and that was it.

“I didn’t lose heart but the Championship did seem a long way away.

“That is why it is nice to end that journey and start a new one. And I want to push on to the Premier League. I want to get as far as I can.

“I can only speak for myself, but you want to test yourself against the best players and against the best clubs – the ones who possibly think that they are better than you. I want to prove that is not the case.”

With 32 league appearances for Wednesday last season and five goals, O’Grady played his part in the promotion success. This time around, however, he wants be a much more integral part of the squad.

“I am here to score goals,” he said. “I don’t want to get paid to do nothing. I am determined to make it work and I will give everything to show I have something to give.

“The decision as to who plays at Derby is down to the manager and I will respect whatever he does.

“If I do get a chance – whether from the start or coming on off the bench – I will be exactly the same and try to add something to the team performance.”

As part of his attempts to make a big impression at Hillsborough this season, O’Grady is happy to report that his home life feels much more settled following his house move.

“It meant the summer was very hectic,” said the Wednesday striker, “but moving house should help me a lot.

“Moving is never fun, as I am sure everyone who has ever done it knows. There are always delays. But I managed to get everything sorted and it is great. I wanted to be settled.

“I moved for my family, my young kids. We are in an area of Sheffield that they can enjoy and allows me to give my everything to the football.”

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