Sheffield Wednesday: Keiren Westwood urges Owls to carry on enjoying their football

Keiren Westwood wants his Owls teammates to carry on enjoying their football as they go in search of their first away win of the season at Burton Albion tonight.
Keiren WestwoodKeiren Westwood
Keiren Westwood

Carlos Carvalhal’s men travel to the Championship new boys looking to build on Saturday’s impressive goalless draw at Norwich City.

Westwood, the Owls number one, told The Star: “We have a real good team spirit here. The lads love playing with each other.

“We play with a smile on our faces. Sam [Hutchinson] and I are always laughing on the pitch. I think that camaraderie is huge.

“I think we have to enjoy our football. Your career is very short. It is over before you even realise so you have to enjoy it.”

Wednesday’s new central defensive axis of Hutchinson and Tom Lees shone againin the heat of the battle at Carrow Road. The duo helped lay a solid foundation as the Owls recorded a second successive league shut out.

It has so far proven a masterstroke by head coach Carvalhal to switch former Chelsea youngster Hutchinson from central midfield to centre-back.

“Sam is such a good footballer; he can play anywhere,” admitted Westwood. “He reads the game so well and enjoys playing centre-half.”

While Lees and Hutchinson have received plenty of plaudits since the new season kicked off, Westwood is keen to stress that their defensive success has been a team effort.

He said: “It (the defence) doesn’t start with myself, Tom, Sam or Daniel Pudil. It comes from the front.

“I thought Lucas [Joao] was great against Norwich and so was Hoops [Gary Hooper] and the lads who came on put their bodies on the line.

“Everyone is working hard from front to back. It has been a great start and long may it continue.”

Westwood has been very impressed with Wednesday’s summer recruitment drive. He thinks Almen Abdi and Steven Fletcher have acclimatised quickly to their new surroundings.

“We’ve added some quality,” he said. “Almen is a fantastic footballer. I’m not going to lie to you. He has been fantastic in the last two games and Fletch has got pedigree. We know what he’s all about.”