Sheffield Wednesday v Crystal Palace: Sentiment goes out of window for Soares

The Owls will condemn his former club Crystal Palace to relegation tomorrow if they win the 'do-or-die' showdown between the clubs at Hillsborough.

Soares, 24, spent 14 years on the books at Selhurst Park and has many friends on the payroll.

However, he was sold to Stoke City in a 1.25m deal two summers ago and has been on loan with the Owls for the past five months.

While the South London club will always have a special place in his heart, Soares has vowed to do everything in his power to keep Wednesday in the Championship.

Nothing less than a victory against the Eagles will be good enough and, if the Owls do avoid the drop, Soares wants to stay on at Hillsborough next season.

"Obviously, I wish it had not come to this and I wish we had done the job a lot sooner," Soares told the Yorkshire Post. "Palace mean a lot to me because I was there from the age of eight and that is where I made my career.

"It's always going to have a place in my heart but, if a Wednesday win means Palace have to go down, that is the way it has got to be."

After making his debut for Palace aged 17, Soares – born in Reading and an Arsenal supporter – went on to make over 150 appearances for the club under three different managers, Iain Dowie, Peter Taylor and Neil Warnock.

Soares accepts that there is no room for 'mixed emotions' when his current and former clubs meet head on.

"You have to leave friends behind when you move on in football and on Sunday there is a job to do. There are no mixed emotions and it's good for us that Palace had 10 points deducted this season because, if they hadn't, our season might already be over."

Soares will be one of three loan players in the Wednesday squad tomorrow – alongside striker Luke Varney (from Derby County) and defender Eddie Nolan (from Preston North End).

Although his contract with Stoke does not expire this summer, Soares feels it is more important to be playing first-team football next season than in the reserves at a Premier League club.

Whether the Owls can afford to keep paying his wages will rest on the outcome of tomorrow's game but the midfielder makes no secret of the fact that he would be happy to stay if the club remains in the Championship.

"Every player wants to play in the Premiership but if I go back to Stoke, that's not the case. Obviously, I need to go back and speak to (Stoke manager) Tony Pulis to see what is happening but I would like to stay here next season.

"Sheffield Wednesday is a massive club and it would be brilliant if I was here from the start of the summer to get a good pre-season under my belt.

"As a young player, you need to be playing and I have done that lately. It was difficult when I first came because the last manager (Brian Laws) was under a bit of pressure and maybe wanted to stick with the players he knew.

"But the new gaffer (Alan Irvine) came in and gave me a chance and it has been nice to be playing. I think we can do really well next season."

Soares was one of several players who missed good goalscoring opportunities for the Owls in last weekend's defeat at Cardiff City.

That result meant the club's destiny rested on Monday night's game between Palace and West Bromwich Albion but fate shone favourably on the Owls and Palace were unable to snatch victory.

"After the Cardiff game, everyone in the changing room was a bit down and we felt our chance had gone," he reflected. "But West Brom have put on a great performance and we were delighted with the result. I watched the game at home although some of it was unwatchable at times, especially near the end. We are grateful we have the chance to put things right and I am really confident that we will."

Former Palace and Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock, meanwhile, is keeping his fingers crossed for the Eagles this weekend.

Warnock turned his back on the club to join rivals Queens Park Rangers in March but says: "I want the right result for Palace and that's got nothing to do with me being a Blade."

For the best coverage of the weekend's crunch encounters don't miss Sports Monday.

Sheff Weds v Crystal Palace

Team news: Owls manager Alan Irvine has a fully fit squad at his disposal for the first time this season. Winger Jermaine Johnson has shaken off a hamstring strain while midfielder Tommy Miller and defender Lewis Buxton are also available after injuries.

Last six games: Sheff Weds DDLLDL, Palace WDWLDD.

Last time: Sheff Weds 1 Palace 2, January 2, 2010, FA Cup.

Referee: M Dean (Wirral).

SkyBet odds: Sheff Weds to win 11-8, Palace to win 2-1, Draw 9-4.