WANDERERS are planning to rain on Sheffield Wednesday's party parade this weekend and kick off their competitive season on a victorious note.<\/p>\n
There has been talk of a 'rebirth' at Hillsborough after the Owls finally rid themselves of the nefarious ownership of Dejphon Chansiri, and more than 23,000 fans have already snapped up season tickets after relegation to League One.<\/p>\n
A massive summer squad rebuild has presented Henrik Pedersen with a challenge, but the addition of familiar faces such as Mason Burstow, Ricardo Santos, and Barry Bannan serves to underline the quality being packed into a squad expected to challenge for promotion honours.<\/p>\n
Steven Schumacher has faced his own issues adding to a squad playing Championship football for the first time in seven years, but he goes into this weekend's game confident of making a winning start.<\/p>\n
"It's the first game of the season, so of course, we want to kick off with a win," he said.<\/p>\n
"We have to be as prepared as we can for that game.<\/p>\n
"We're not taking it as a pre-season game, where we can get knocked out and not give a good performance, then have to regroup for the opening day.<\/p>\n
"We'll go there and do our very best against a really motivated and well organised team.<\/p>\n
"Obviously the league is where your bread and butter is.<\/p>\n
"But we're still going to take the Sheffield Wednesday game as our first competitive fixture because it's a game that we want to try and win, going up against a good team.<\/p>\n
"They were recently relegated from the Championship, they have strengthened this summer, they have made some good signings.<\/p>\n
"Their fans will be really up for the game with the new ownership and a fresh start.<\/p>\n
"If we go to Hillsborough on Saturday not fully prepared to try and win the game, it will be a difficult afternoon for us."<\/p>\n
Mason Burstow signed for Sheffield Wednesday on a season-long loan (Image: CameraSport – Lee Parker)<\/p>\n
Despite last season's trials and tribulations, Wednesday still maintained an average gate above 20,000, and new ownership has provided a fresh injection of enthusiasm to the South Yorkshire club.<\/p>\n