Varney’s The Man

It was no coincidence that Wednesday put on one of their best attacking showings for many months in Luke Varney’s first outing since returning to Hillsborough.

Okay, first things first, Scunthorpe will be destined for a swift return back to League One on Saturday’s showing, they were one of the worst sides to visit Hillsborough in recent times.

That shouldn’t take away the superb attacking play that Wednesday put on in front of the Hillsborough faithful on Saturday, an attacking showing that brought about four goals and a comfortable three points.

It should have been ten though, shouldn’t it?

New loan signing Luke Varney, arriving at S6 for a second spell in the blue and white stripes from Derby County, was certainly at the centre of everything good about the Owls’ attack.

He could have had a couple of goals, he could even have enjoyed a hat-trick to top off his second debut for the club.

But although missing a hatful of one-on-one chances, would Wednesday have bagged four goals at all had he not been on the pitch?

Forget the potential Premier League player coming in, Varney is the man we’ve been looking for – and the goals WILL come.

The former Crewe man did more in the first minute of Saturday’s showing than some other Wednesday players – without naming names – have done in a long, long time.

His burst of speed and run which took him half the length of the pitch set the standard for a pulsating attacking display for the hosts against the Iron.

And although ‘Reg’ will have left the Hillsborough pitch gutted that he somehow didn’t manage to find the back of the net, words of wisdom from boss Brian Laws when he was substituted will no doubt have been words of high praise.

‘That’s why Derby let him go’ screached one Owls fan behind me at the match on Saturday, as Scunthorpe stopper Joe Murphy won three one-on-one battles with the frontman.

But as the game progressed, and the Owls attacking threat was significantly reduced following the substitution of Varney, said fan soon realised his contribution to the three points was vast.

His movement, runs and link-up play offered a great variety of options in the Wednesday attack and will make sure that, during his time at S6, there will always be chances at the right end.

It’s a case of when one goal will come, more will quickly follow for the former Charlton striker, who has struggled to make the grade with the Rams this season.

Varney bagged two goals in four outings during last season’s loan spell.

And, despite not making the scoresheet on Saturday, Wednesday fans have been quick to talk about a permanent deal, such was his contribution to the game.

Whether that comes or not, only time will tell, but Laws has made another well-thought signing on a shoestring budget, and one that will no doubt improve the quality of the Owls squad’s for the next few weeks at least.

Welcome, Luke…