Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Barry Bannan was delighted to make his first appearance in three-and-a-half months as his side beat Preston North End 4-1 at Hillsborough.
The 28-year-old Airdrie born midfielder had not featured for The Owls since December after sustaining a hip injury.
Bannan made his return against The Lilywhites and lasted 78 minutes before being replaced by Fernando Forestieri, a player who had not featured for the club himself since August.
Speaking to The72 after the match, Bannan admitted that he was pleased to finally make his first team comeback from injury.
“I enjoyed it, it’s been a hard few months for me personally” Bannan said. “The main thing was winning but for me personally I was just happy being back out playing football.
“I thought we did well in the second half, first half we couldn’t really get to grips with it.
“We had a talk at half time, came out stronger and pushed up the pitch. The extra striker coming on helped unsettle them as well.
“The second half was much better and we are just delighted to get the three points.”
Bannan’s injury has been one of many which have contributed to a much-depleted Wednesday squad this season and the player has reiterated just how tough it has been at Hillsborough this term.
“A lot of people are forgetting how hard it has been this season, you never get nine or 10 injuries” the midfielder added.
“The boys who have played in our places have been brilliant.
“We’ve got boys coming back now and add them to the boys who have been playing and it’s all coming together good.
“When you get players like Fernando (Forestieri) and Tom Lees back the results are only going to pick up.”
Bannan was brought off with 12 minutes to go as a precautionary measure and the midfielder said that it was the correct decision.
“It felt good today up until 70-75 minutes” the player confessed. “I could have carried on but it was better to put someone on who was 100%.
“Me giving 70% could see me pick up another injury so I had to take the sensible option.
“If you are coming back from a long injury you don’t want to break down again so I had to use my head today and just help the team.”
Bannan will be hoping to make the starting XI again when Sheffield Wednesday travel to Sunderland on Easter Monday.
