Video - Stoke v Sheffield Wednesday: I need to eradicate bad tackles, says Hutchinson

But for Sheffield Wednesday midfield enforcer Sam Hutchinson, tonight will represent a reminder of just what he has missed during a playing career in which he has copped a watching brief for too many marquee occasions.

Hutchinson is back in the fray for tonight’s Capital One Cup quarter-final tie at the Britannia Ground after cooling his heels following a two-match ban and to say he is grateful is an understatement. Ditto determined.

Having already missed three league matches due to suspension after picking up a staggering 10 yellow cards in 15 matches – often through his own “stupidity” as he candidly puts it – Hutchinson accepts that enough is enough.

Earlier in his career when it wasn’t costly suspensions keeping him out of the Chelsea side, it was something else. Including excruciating injuries – something about which he knew chapter and verse in his time at his boyhood club.

When he was fit, there was the not inconsequential barrier of somehow breaking into one of the blue-chip playing squads in world football, yet alone England.

As a Chelsea fan, Hutchinson was part of some of the most venerated moments in the club’s history. Champions League wins, Europa League wins, FA Cup wins. You name it, he was almost certainly there.

But being a non-playing squad member is not the real thing. But playing a leading role in the Owls’ remarkable recent cup slaying of Arsenal was – and tonight’s tie in the Potteries tantalisingly might, just might, well be.

Hutchinson said: “I have been all over the world with Chelsea in different situations. I was at all of the (recent) finals, including the Champions League final. But it’s not the same feeling if you don’t play.

“I got a bigger buzz over-celebrating against Arsenal than I ever did when we won the Champions League and I’m a Chelsea fan.

“When you play and put your heart and soul and effort into winning at any cost, it’s totally different.

“Arsenal was a much bigger buzz than anything I had at Chelsea or any other club. Hopefully, we can do the same (at Stoke).”

Hutchinson’s commitment to the Owls’ cause has been total this season, but mention of his litany of bookings so far this term brings a rueful expression.

Having turned 26 in August, Hutchinson readily acknowledges he needs to “grow up a little bit” and admits he has transgressed on too many occasions this term.

Given the fact that he sat out so many games earlier in his career, albeit for differing reasons, avoiding any further costly bans represents the strongest of motivations.

He added: “It’s my own stupidness, to be honest, and I need to grow up a little bit. Some of the tackles have been stupid and over enthusiastic. I’ll try and change it. I think I can.

“It’s been hard, but you learn from it and it’s a learning curve for me.

“I need to eradicate the bad tackles. I never really got booked at Chelsea and occasionally got booked at (Nottingham) Forest, although I didn’t really play enough games.

“I just need not to get stupid. It is just I am getting too excited as I am playing so many games, if I am honest.”

The Owls face Premier League opponents tonight for the third round running in an exhilarating cup run that has offered a glorious rewind to some intoxicating days for Wednesdayites before an abrupt unravelling of the club’s fortunes at the start of the Millennium.

But while it represents another choice night to embrace for supporters on a journey that they avidly hope will culminate in the Owls’ return to what they view as their rightful place at the top table of English football, Hutchinson’s only interest is taking care of business.

The Slough-born player enjoyed a rare moment in the sun with Chelsea against the Potters, coming on as a substitute in a 7-0 Stamford Bridge rout in April 2010 and is hoping for another select occasion at their expense tonight.

He said: “We have confidence going into the game and have obviously beaten Newcastle and 
Arsenal along the way and everyone is looking forward to the game. It’s a massive challenge, we are the underdogs. But we also believe we can cause an upset.

“I have played Stoke before in the Premiership and, like all the boys, have lots of confidence going into it.

“The difference between this year and last year is that now we have a bit of arrogance.

“We have different players in now and believe we can play football against anyone.”

Last six games: Stoke LWDWWL, Sheffield Wednesday WWDLWD.

Referee: M Clattenburg (Co.Durham).

Last time: Stoke 2 Sheffield Wednesday 4; October 20, 2007; Championship.