Semedo is now fully focused on the big step up

FOR Jose Semedo, the first part of what he hopes to be a special month with his beloved Sheffield Wednesday arrived on Sunday.

The Portuguese midfielder, an iconic figure among Owls supporters, was afforded the captain’s armband on a rare start in the 2-1 final-day defeat to Fulham – the first time that he has lined up from the off in a league game at Hillsborough since November, 2015.

With Semedo out of contract this summer, it could well be that Sunday’s occasion represented something of a swansong.

For his part, all that the 32-year-old – a recent regular from the bench before Sunday’s elevation – is focused on is helping the club over the line to end their exile from the Premier League and making up for last season’s Wembley heartache in the play-off final.

Expressing confidence that Wednesday can hold sway over Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town in the play-off semi-final, Semedo said: “I have no doubts that we will end up with the cherry on top of the cake, which is the Premier League.”

Having made his first league start since August 16 at the weekend, he continued: “It (promotion) would be amazing. I was here when we were in League One. By the end of this month, we could maybe be in the Premier League so I could not ask for more.

“We know what we have to do. We know where we are. We have completed the first part of the mission, now comes the second part.

“The team spirit has been amazing throughout and that is why we are where we are.

“We had a little spell two months ago where the results did not follow, but the performances were there.

“It is unfortunate the results did not go our way as we could have challenged the top two.”

The recent form guide and record between both clubs may suggest that Wednesday hold an edge over their White Rose counterparts, but full-back Liam Palmer insists that he and his Owls colleagues will be taking nothing for granted.

On whether form will come into it, he said: “Possibly. I know there was a big hoo-ha over their team selection in one of the games, so whether that has contributed to Huddersfield’s form, I am not sure.

“Even though our record is good against them and we have picked up the wins, it has only been by fine margins, so we are not taking anything for granted. Anyone can beat anyone in the play-offs.”