VIDEO: Forestieri keen to repay Owls boss

Fernando Forestieri is relishing his life at Sheffield Wednesday under boss Carlos Carvalhal.
Fernando ForestieriFernando Forestieri
Fernando Forestieri

The attacker opted to quit Watford late August, having slipped down in the pecking order at Vicarage Road.

But since moving to Hillsborough, Forestieri has been a revelation, hitting eight goals in 16 appearances, including a double in Sunday’s thrilling 4-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Fernando ForestieriFernando Forestieri
Fernando Forestieri

Forestieri credits Carvalhal for his stellar goal-scoring exploits.

“I am enjoying working for Carlos,” he told The Star. “I have never had a coach like him before.

“He gives me a lot of confidence.

“When I go on to the pitch, I try to do my best for him and the team because he helps me a lot. When I run and score, it is for him and the team.”

Fernando ForestieriFernando Forestieri
Fernando Forestieri

Owls will be looking to maintain their impressive home form when they entertain top-six rivals Birmingham City on Boxing Day.

“The good thing is we need to recover well and prepare for Birmingham,” said Forestieri, who was named in the Football League Team of the Week. “We have to be careful with them as they won last week.

“But when we play at home we have a lot of confidence. We will see what the gaffer says. We need to listen to him because he prepares us good for every single match.”

Victory over Wolves moved Wednesday up to seventh and within a point of Ipswich Town, who currently occupy the final Championship play-off spot, but Carvalhal is refusing to get carried away.

“We have come from 19th place after playing at Bolton (in September) and have progressed and, at this moment, we are in a good position,” said the Portuguese.

“Everyone will understand that we played one way in August and play completely different now and are better.

“But it is not important at this moment if we are sixth or fifth, fourth or third, second or first. The value of this is nothing.

“We are progressing and in a good way. But we have an important match against Birmingham on Boxing Day and let’s just focus on the next game.

“The most important thing in this competition is the balance. Don’t be under pressure when you lose and don’t be euphoric when you win.”

Owls Under-21s, meanwhile, lost 1-0 at Leeds United yesterday. Eoghan Stokes’ strike condemned them to a second successive defeat in their final fixture of 2015.