'We are on the up' – Sheffield Wednesday legend Barry Bannan is back

The 36-year-old midfielder is a modern-day Hillsborough legend, not only for the quality and quantity of his performances, but his commitment to the cause. Bannan turned down the chance to leave when the Owls were last relegated to League One, and trained with them for free last summer when financial problems meant they were unable to pay him, before the club got permission to offer him a new contract on a vastly reduced wage.

So for Bannan to leave for Millwall as he did in January was a severe blow to morale at the embattled club, and such a quick return - even though it has been speculated on for a large chunk of the transfer window - is a huge lift to morale.

“This club means so much to me and my family so to have the opportunity to come back, I didn’t have to think twice about it," he told the club's official website. "I’m just delighted and I can’t wait to get going again.

“I always had it in my mind I would be coming back to Wednesday in some capacity so to get this done now is brilliant. There’s a lot of optimism and excitement around the place – we are on the up.

“We know what this season requires – a lot of hard work and togetherness with everyone fighting for each other, everyone on the same page. Obviously, I know everyone from last season and the new lads already seem at home, so there’s a lot to look forward to and I’m just so pleased to be back part of it.”

Bannan's 477 appearances for the club he first joined in 2015 put him sixth in the club's all-time appearances chart, one behind goalkeeper Kevin Pressman.

The former Scotland international signed an 18-month contract with the Lions, and although Millwall reached the Championship play-off semi-finals, where they lost to eventual winners Hull City over two legs, on a personal level he did not have the impact he would have hoped for.

Used to starting games for Wednesday whether he was fully fit or not, Bannan kicked off just six of the 19 games he was available for, and failed to complete any of them. He came off the bench in another 10.

He failed to score for the south London club.

Bannan's departure only heightened concerns about the future of the 158-year-old club, who were in the midst of a takeover by former Sheffield United consultant James Bord. That deal soon fell through, with the former poker player coming to the conclusion he had offered too much money to take the club out of administration.

That opened the door for Michael Storch to resurrect his interest, and the American's takeover, completed on the final day of last season, has brough a genuine sense of optimism back to the club after an incredibly difficult final 12 months of Dejphon Chansiri's chairmanship plunged them into all manner of financial turmoil, and ultimately relegation from the Championship with an unprecedented zero points.

Bannan's return only fuels the sense of optimism.

In the latter years of his career and even when he took the unusual step of recording a club website interview after leaving, Bannan had always emphasised he wanted to return to Hillsborough in some capacity, even if only as a supporter.

But in January few could have envisaged his return coming so quickly.

And despite his disappointing spell in London, his qualities are unquestioned at Hillsborough, and his signing is of more than just psychological importance for a team hoping to win promotion back to the Championship next season.