Sheffield Wednesday: Barry Bannan can't wait to take on Aston Villa but hoping for no jeers from home fans

Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Barry Bannan comes up against his old club

The Scot admits to still having a fondness for one of the Championship’s current fallen giants after being given his professional football break at Villa Park.

However, while Bannan admits to still looking out for Villa’s results, he says he will be doing everything in his power to ensure their next one is a defeat when the sides meet at the weekend.

“I am looking forward to it - they have won three games recently and will be confident,” said Bannan, who spent five years as a professional and made over 60 appearances for the Villains before moving on to Crystal Palace in 2013.

“I know they lost at Huddersfield (on Tuesday), but that is a tough place.

“I am looking forward to it; I don’t know what kind of reception I will get, to be honest. I actually don’t know.

“But I will be looking forward to it and trying to get the three points for Sheffield Wednesday.

“I think a lot of the fans who boo me on Saturday won’t realise that I actually support Aston Villa because I had been there since I was 13 to 23 probably.

“They are one of the my English teams, to be honest and hopefully they will take it easy on me.

“But that club has brought me to where I am and I owe a lot to that club. But obviously on Saturday, I will be trying my best for Sheffield Wednesday.

Owls head coach Carlos Carvalhal will be assessing the fitness of a number of his players before Saturday’s trip to the Midlands.

Sam Hutchinson, Almen Abdi and Callum McManaman all missed the 1-1 draw with Burton.

McManaman is likely to be available after suffering a slight leg injury,

Carvalhal said: “After the game (against Norwich on Saturday) he felt a little pain in the leg, not a specific place but the leg. It is not too serious but he was not ready to play.”

On Hutchinson he added: “I spoke with Sam (on Monday and Tuesday),” added Carvalhal. “He felt a big pain and can’t play. He is better but he wasn’t available to play (against Burton) - for Saturday let’s see. He has a few days, we’ll see.”