Bruised Bannan takes solace in joining Scotland camp for France friendly

BARRY Bannan may have just suffered the worst day of his football career but he believes his best years are about to begin.

The Sheffield Wednesday winger could not hide his disappointment after his side’s 1-0 defeat to Hull City on Saturday. However, there is some consolation for the winger in that he has finally found a home in Sheffield.

Loan moves to Blackpool, Derby, Leeds and Bolton were not ideal for a player who craved stability for so long. Now he has it, Bannan is confident he can at last kick on after some frustrating times.

“I’m stabilised here, I’ve signed a three-year deal, I’m playing every week and I think I am playing well,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed this season. Saturday was a sore one, but I’ll be back next season. I’ve come here and got a run of games and you get confidence – that’s shown on the pitch because it’s been the best season of my career.”

Bannan and his team-mates were second best at Wembley despite a bright start to the game and the fact his team failed to find their best level hurt him the most.

“I’m very sad,” he admitted. “We never really turned up. We worked hard and tried hard, but we never got going. It’s so disappointing.

“Nerves didn’t play any part. We just didn’t deliver. In games like this you need to bring your A game to Wembley and we never did that, and Hull are a good team.”

One thing Bannon could take away from Saturday was the incredible backing his team got from their supporters who did not stop singing from first to last minute.”

“I’m going to Malta on Tuesday with Scotland. It won’t make up for what happened, but when you are out on that football pitch, you have no worries. Hopefully, I can get a game against France and we could do well. I’m hurting at the moment, but this could take my mind off it.”

Barnsley, meanwhile, have been promoted to the Sky Bet Championship after their 3-1 win over Millwall in the League One final.

Manchester United loanee Ashley Fletcher opened the scoring before Adam Hammill added a spectacular second. Mark Beevers pulled one back for Millwall but Lloyd Isgrove put Barnsley out of sight after the break.