Sheffield Wednesday face Cardiff City for the first time this season today and so it will be the first time that Steven MacLean has faced the Owls since leaving in the summer.
MacLean has struggled for form and fitness since joining the Welsh outfit on a free transfer in the close season and has started just 8 times in all competitions finding the net only once. He played from the start in the F.A. Cup against Chasetown last weekend but may have to settle for a place on the bench against his former employees.
Macca also had a slow start to his Wednesday career under Chris Turner but blossomed when Paul Sturrock took over the club and his goals were instrumental in the Owls 2004/05 promotion season. The striker, affectionately referred to as dynamite during his time at Hillsborough scored 19 times that season included a vital penalty in the play-off final on his return from injury. MacLean missed most of the 2005/06 season through injury and although he only made 22 starts last season he was the Owls joint top scorer with 13 goals.
His goals, hold up play and all round ability has certainly been missed by Wednesday this season.
MacLean expressed his gratitude to the Owls faithful when he left last summer but felt that the new contract that he was offered by the club was not a fair reflection of his abilities.