Loove is a battlefield warns Baz

Sunderland v Sheff Wed Carabao Cup 1st round, kick-off 7.45pm

BARRY BANNAN has warned his Sheffield Wednesday team-mates they are in for a kicking at Sunderland – from former Owls skipper Glenn Loovens.

Centre-back Loovens (above) is ready to put the boot in against his old pals after being dumped by Hillsborough boss Jos Luhukay at the end of last season.

It didn’t take the relegated Black Cats long to snap him up on a free but the big Dutchman is still smarting about being ditched after making 150 appearances in a fiveyear stay with the Yorkshire outfit.

And Bannan (below) is in no doubt that his former team-mate will be in the mood to take out his frustration on Wednesday in tonight’s Carabao Cup showdown at the Stadium of Light.

Scotland midfielder Bannan said: “I saw Glenn a couple of weeks ago and I keep in regular contact with him because we are good friends. But I will definitely try to stay away from him on the pitch because I know he likes to kick a few people. He’s a tough competitor and he is going to be right up for this game against his old club.

“Glenn’s going to be really motivated so I fully intend to keep my distance from him until after the final whistle. And I reckon the rest of our lads should do the same.

“Then it will be good to see him afterwards because he’s a great character and everybody here misses him.”

The Wearsiders endured a horrible campaign last time around but Bannan is backing them to turn around their fortunes this term.

He said: “I think they have bought well during the summer and having Glenn there will strengthen them at the back. We know they will make it difficult for us.

“As a team we are not defending well enough at the minute, and we need to be stronger as a unit.

“We need to work hard to get better defensively, and that’s what we’ve been doing in training this week. We are determined to put right the things we have been doing wrong, starting against Sunderland.”