The one thing Barry Bannan wants after Sheffield Wednesday return | OneFootball

Barry Bannan has his sights set on being the best player in League One next season

Barry Bannan is back at Sheffield Wednesday, and the 36-year-old still feels as if he has a lot to offer in the engine room at League One level.

The modern-day Wednesday legend made his emotional return to the Hillsborough-based club this summer, six months after his 10-and-a-half-year stint with Wednesday came to an end, leaving in January to join Millwall.

Bannan admitted before his return was made official that he didn't want to part ways with the club he made 477 appearances for midway through last season, citing the uncertainty surrounding the club's future in administration as the reason he felt he had to leave.

It was well thought during his time at Sheffield Wednesday that the midfielder could easily play at a level higher than the South Yorkshire side while they were a mid-table Championship club, but definitely five years ago when they were a third-tier side, too.

The move to Millwall highlighted that Bannan perhaps isn't someone who could anchor the midfield in a promotion-chasing second-tier side, but now he's back in League One, the 36-year-old feels he could make a real impact in what's shaping up to be an exciting season at Hillsborough.

Barry Bannan reveals his goal to be the best player in League One next season

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A move for Bannan this summer obviously carries a lot of nostalgia and sentiment from a Wednesday perspective, given his long-standing connection and love for the club.

But the 36-year-old wants to prove that David Storch and the rest of the higher-ups at Hillsborough have brought him back to play a key role in a positive first campaign under the Arise ownership, which could culminate in immediate promotion back to the Championship.

Speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield during their pre-season sessions in Budapest, Hungary, Bannan guarded against complacency, knowing that his name and past at the club won't guarantee him starts, and he wants to be amongst the best in his position this season.

"In terms of on the pitch, nothing will change; I'll be the same person I've always been," he said.

"I'm not naive that, because of what I've done here in the past, it will make things easy for me this year. I'm out to prove that I'm one of the best players in this league, and I will do that until the day I finish.

"Once I'm not the best player, once I don't feel as if I'm giving anything, I'll know that's my time. But I feel I've got a lot to give still as a player at this football club, and I'm out to prove this season that I want to be the best player in League One."

Recently, Ollie Norwood has proven at Stockport County that age is really just a number when it comes to marshalling midfields in League One. The 35-year-old has been regarded as one of the best midfielders in the division for a couple of years now, and signed a new two-year deal with the Hatters this summer.

Bannan will be looking to follow in his footsteps and, ideally, better him and the other talented engine room operators in the division in the 2026/27 campaign.

Sheffield Wednesday will love Barry Bannan's mentality heading into the new season

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Towards the beginning of the off-season, the majority of Wednesday fans will have been happy with a campaign of consolidation under the new ownership, as the final years of the Dejphon Chansiri reign offered anything but.

However, from eradicating the imposed 15-point deduction and transfer restrictions, to bringing in personnel at board level who have crafted plans for getting out of League One and then making nine ambitious, exciting signings, Wednesday fans are dreaming of promotion once more.

Evidently, those inside the Sheffield Wednesday camp aren't settling for a middling season that offers stability, as they want to be among the best in the division, too.

Bannan is used to the Owls being a top side in League One, with him captaining the club to their play-off success the last time they were in the third tier back in 2022/23. That year, the Scotsman registered 19 goal involvements, and he'll be hoping to match, if not better, that in the upcoming campaign.

In each of their last three ventures into the third tier, Wednesday have earned promotion in their second season. This time round, they want their League One adventure to last just the one year.