Targets must adapt to Owls brand

CARLOS CARVALHAL insists the Owls are in much better shape ahead of his second season at Hillsborough compared to 12 months ago.

The Portuguese is still keen to strengthen ahead of the Championship getting under way in S6 this Sunday with the visit of newly-relegated Aston Villa.

A central defender and a left- back to provide competition for Daniel Pudil, signed last week on a permanent deal from Watford, are Carvalhal’s priorities.

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August 31 is the deadline to get any more deals done but the 50-year-old will not be rushed as he looks to bring in the right type of player to complement a squad that went so close to clinching promotion last term.

“To play for Sheffield Wednesday,” he said, “you must adapt to Sheffield Wednesday. It is not Sheffield Wednesday that must adapt to the players.

“We try to find out about their peronalities. I think we are doing well with the players we have brought in to Sheffield Wedensday. We analyse them a lot. I must tell you that I was watching a player of very good ability but the two times he missed the ball he didn’t run back and another time he put his arms up to his colleagues.

“He is a very, very good player but that is not the player we want for our brand. We want fighters and workers.”

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Carvalhal, now the second-longest serving manager in Yorkshire senior football, started his reign a year ago with a 2-0 win over Bristol City on the opening day.

However, it was not until the late August signings of Fernando Forestieri, Barry Bannan and Daniel Pudil that Wednesday found the rhythm that would eventually propel the club to Wembley.

“We need more players but, in this moment, we are ready to start the competition. We will try and bring them in as soon as possible. But we can start with what we have got.

“I remember last season, it was a new coach and new philosphy and we had a lot more problems than this season. This season, we are better than was the case last season.”