Sam Hutchinson rejoins Sheffield Wednesday

The 31-year-old was released in the summer after being sidelined by then-manager Garry Monk.

Monk was sacked in November and the first moves to bring Hutchinson back were thought to have been initiated by his successor, Tony Pulis, who has since been dismissed too. Wednesday are currently under the caretaker control of Neil Thompson but with no more transfers possible this season after February 1, they cannot afford to wait around.

Hutchinson is the second arrival after forward Andre Green, who made his debut at Everton in the FA Cup.Chelsea youth product Hutchinson made 151 appearances in his first spell at Hillsborough, scoring six goals. He initially joined on loan from the Blues in February 2014, a move that was made permanently in the same summer.

Hutchinson can also operate at centre-back, but it is in midfield were Wednesday's needs are perhaps most pressing at present.

Since being released by the Owls he has been playing for Pafos in Cyprus but his contract was cancelled in December.

He has joined in time to face Coventry City in the Championship on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Thompson has said the involvement of a clutch of young players in the 3-0 FA Cup defeat at Goodison Park can only be a good thing for their development.

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