Owls chief Megson aims to go Dutch

SHEFFIELD Wednesday have offered Swansea City midfielder Ferrie Bodde an opportunity to revive his career at Hillsborough.

Manager Gary Megson yesterday confirmed his interest in the Dutchman who has played only four games for the Premier League club following a knee operation three years ago.

If Swansea agree to sanction the deal, Bodde will join the Owls on loan ahead of next Tuesday’s trip to League One promotion rivals Milton Keynes Dons.

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He is the ‘creative midfield player’ that Megson has been seeking in the transfer market and impressed Owls scouts this week in a reserve game against West Bromwich Albion.

“I tried to sign Ferrie quite a few years ago when I was at Bolton in the Premiership but he had bad luck with a cruciate problem and has been out for a long, long time,” said Megson.

“He’s a really good player. It might suit Swansea, it would certainly suit Wednesday, and it might suit Ferrie. It’s early days yet but he is certainly somebody I would be interested in.”

Bodde, 28, joined Swansea five years ago from Den Haag and played a key role in the Welsh club’s promotion from League One in 2008.

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His arrival would strengthen a side that drew level on points this week with second-placed Huddersfield Town in the race for promotion to the Championship.

Megson, however, issued a note of caution saying: “We currently have a choice of 20 outfield players and we are trying to improve in terms of bringing people in.

“We have got a couple of irons in the fire but trying to improve on where we were six months ago was a lot easier than trying to improve on where we are now. Whether we can get the players I feel we need, with the resources we have got, remains to be seen.”

The Owls, meanwhile, have major problems in defence as they prepare to visit Championship side Blackpool tomorrow in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

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Centre-back Miguel Llera is cup-tied, captain Rob Jones is ruled out with an ankle injury, and three left-backs – Reda Johnson, Daniel Jones and Julian Bennett – are all sidelined.

“We are going to have to chop and change and we also have a hugely important game on Tuesday night and a game that is just as important (against Yeovil) the Saturday afterwards,” said Megson.

Asked whether Blackpool or the Tuesday game at MK Dons was more important, Megson had no hesitation in stressing the latter.

“You have to go with the league and I’m sure Blackpool would say the same,” he explained. “The FA Cup is still the biggest and the best cup competition in the world and everyone takes it seriously but it’s starting to be looked at a little bit differently to when I played (in the Eighties).

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“The really big teams probably used to play in Europe with the same team they had put out on a Saturday but now (Manchester) City, United, Arsenal and Chelsea have probably got a team to play in the Champions League, one to play in the Premiership, and another one in Cup ties. It’s just changed it a little bit.

“I know Wednesday supporters will share my view because promotion will get us one step nearer to where Sheffield Wednesday should be,” he added. “Even then, if we were fortunate enough and good enough to get into the Championship, we wouldn’t be able to rest on our laurels. It’s got to kick on again and eventually end up where it should be (in the Premier League).”

Rob Jones will miss his second consecutive game tomorrow after limping off with an ankle injury against Hartlepool United last weekend. Reda Johnson is awaiting the results of a scan on the back problem that forced his absence at Scunthorpe United on Tuesday night but has also been ruled out of tomorrow’s game.

Left-back Daniel Jones will have a scan today on a calf injury picked up at Scunthorpe while Bennett is having injections in a shoulder problem and has not played since the third-round FA Cup victory over West Ham. The only good news on the injury front is the return of Lewis Buxton after a thigh strain.

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The Owls’ defensive crisis is set to result in a back-four against Blackpool that features Jon Otsemobor, Buxton, Danny Batth and Mark Beevers.

For Beevers, recently on loan at the MK Dons, it will be an opportunity to build on his return as emergency left-back against Scunthorpe.

“Mark had never played left-back in his life but he went in there and did really well,” said Megson.

“We have people who can cope and we also have a lot of honest lads who, if you ask them to play out of position, will do so readily and not start making excuses.

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“Nobody is ever going to be ‘out’ (at this club) and nobody is ever going to be ‘in’. What dictates everything is form. Nothing else.

“If Mark plays, he has the opportunity to play well. If the opportunity is not a long-standing one, he gets the opportunity to show what he can do elsewhere.”

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