Liam Shaw backs Neil Thompson for Sheffield Wednesday full-time job

Academy chief Thompson, 57, has been in temporary charge since the shock sacking of Tony Pulis on Monday evening and has overseen back-to-back home victories over Derby County and Middlesbrough.

Three points against Derby on Friday evening saw Wednesday move out of the relegation zone for the first time this season, ahead of Saturday's Championship programme.

Friday was also the first occasion that the Owls have won successive league games in 2020-21, with Thompson boasting a 100 per cent record.

Wednesday are assessing their options, with time afforded them by consecutive wins under Thompson, with a break in the league schedule for FA Cup matters next weekend - with the Owls visiting Exeter City - also providing an element of time ahead of their return to league action at Coventry City on January 16.

But should Thompson be handed the position on a full-time basis, Shaw has professed that he would be pleased.

A number of candidates have been linked with the job, including Gus Poyet, Thorsten Fink and ex-Barnsley head coach Jose Morais.

On the prospect of Thompson getting the job on a permanent basis, Shaw, who showed his versatility with a sound display in the heart of defence against Derby to crown an outstanding week for the teenager, who scored his first senior goal for his boyhood club three days earlier against Boro, said: "That's obviously out of our control. It's up to the chairman but I would be happy with him.

"He (Thompson) has been with me since I was 18 in the (under) 23s. He knows me really well so it is nice to have someone like that who knows what you can do and knows you inside out.

"He has been really good and positive. He has tried to take the shackles off really.

"He wants us to be positive. He wants us to attack as a team and defend as a team. There are no real restrictions. Most importantly, he wants us to be positive and have a go rather than sit in and lose.

"If everyone has a go and gives it a go, I think that is a better way to play football."

Offering his thoughts on the key win over the Rams, in a game in which the Owls were second best for spells, but dug deep to chisel out their third win in four matches and take their points return over the Christmas and New Year period to a decidedly healthy ten from a possible 12, Shaw continued: "We started slow in the first half and it was not good enough.

"We had a little team-talk at half-time and said we needed to get better or we weren't going to get anything from it and the lads came out and we all dug in.

"We got the goal and as a team we all dug in to hold on to the three points, which is all that matters really."