PFA interview with Sheffield Wednesday ace

Sheffield Wednesday boss Brian Laws is already reaping the benefits of persuading striker Marcus Tudgay to sign a new contract at the club over the summer.

The 26-year-old, who was voted the PFA Championship Fans’ Player of the Year last season, netted a brace in the Owls’ 3-1 win at Plymouth at the weekend, taking his tally to three for the campaign thus far.

Tudgay was the subject of a £1.5 million bid from Burnley last month, but Laws is convinced the player’s future lies at Hillsborough, and Tudgay has subsequently penned a new four-year contract – a decision he certainly doesn’t regret.

And Laws is already predicting his frontman will better last season’s total of 14 to help the Yorkshire outfit mount a promotion challenge. Mark Shail caught up with the in-demand hotshot.

Q: You must be pleased with the start to the season?

A: It had been a bit slow for me in terms of scoring goals, and strikers are judged on goals, but things are now working out for me. I’ve got my goals, and it is time for me to kick on. We have brought in some players who have given a lot to the team, and that has been a big part of our success this season.

Q: Were you tempted by a switch to Burnley in the summer?

A: I’ve been with Wednesday for three and a half years and I’m not going to lie, my head did turn with Burnley’s interest. Burnley have started the season well, beating Manchester United, but I have no regrets and I am happy at Wednesday.

Q: So all the transfer talk wasn't a distraction?

A: What happened over the summer hasn’t affected me. It is behind me now and I am happy. If I wasn’t happy I would not have signed for four more years. I hope the fans can see that.

Q: And I suppose the aim now is to get in the Premier League with the Owls?

A: Any player saying they don’t want Premier League football is mad. I wanted to listen to what they (Burnley) had to say, but after a lot of conversations with Brian Laws and the chairman, and considering where my family and I live, it was easy for me to stay at Wednesday.

I want to play in the Premier League and want to do that with Wednesday. Hopefully over the next four years we can win something and get promotion. If you don’t dream you can reach the Premier League you are defeated already.

Q: Wednesday are well placed in the top eight going into the international break, aren't they?

A: Yes, I think we have started well. The football has definitely improved. It is just a case of us getting those wins. I am just going to keep on doing what I do.