Sheffield Wednesday forward Sam Winnall opens up on the difficulty of watching from the stands
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Signed from south Yorkshire rivals Barnsley in January 2017, the forward has spent more times watching on from the sidelines and stands than he has banging in the goals, and two seasons ago was loaned out to Derby County.
There have been false dawns. A classy headed goal in Garry Monk’s first match as Owls boss prompted a run of appearances but it was a run that fizzled out and Winnall spent over two months without a first team minute leading into the festive period.
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Hide AdBut time has moved on and the 28-year-old finds himself in the side once more.
A promising cameo in the defeat at Stoke lead to back-to-back starts and while a contribution in those three losses – among Wednesday’s worst of the season – wasn’t season-making, it’s a start.
“It’s not easy to watch, it’s not easy when you’re not involved,” he said. “You have to stay mentally strong and keep believing in yourself and that’s something that I’ve been doing.
“I knew my chance would come eventually.
“I hate it, I hate it, I hate being a spectator.”
Winnall, who’s contract at Wednesday runs out in the summer, seemed to rule out a January loan move elsewhere, and outlined a determination to finally make a lasting impact at the Hillsborough club.
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Hide AdHe may well feature in what is expected to be a much-changed side at Brighton in the FA Cup this weekend.
He said: “I have a lot of pride in myself and in the boys. I want to be part of the team and this football club. Sitting up in the stands you don’t exactly feel like that.
“I do believe in myself and I believe that given a chance I can perform. It's been a tough time for me and I've not really had an extended run of games in the team. We'll see, I'm just taking every day and every game as it comes and what will be will be.”