Sam Hutchinson has vowed to get “fitter and fitter” under Sheffield Wednesday’s new management team.
Hutchinson has been an almost ever-present since Jos Luhukay’s departure as manager six weeks ago, having been frozen out for the final few months of the Dutchman’s reign.
Luhukay had repeatedly claimed the 29-year-old was injured – something that was later denied vehemently by the player.
It was Lee Bullen who initially restored him to the side, before handing over the reins to Steve Agnew and Stephen Clemence as the Owls awaited Steve Bruce’s arrival as full-time boss.
And Hutchinson’s return appears to have catalysed an upturn in fortunes for Wednesday, whose fans phoned in numbers to praise the former Chelsea player as he appeared on BBC Radio Sheffield’s Time to Talk special on mental health earlier.
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“To be honest, I can only get better,” he told one caller. “I’m going to get fitter and fitter with the new manager, and under the new regime. I think I can only get better, and long may it continue.”
Asked if Bruce and co had done anything special regarding mental health at Sheffield Wednesday, Hutchinson replied: “No, nothing at the moment. They are just very positive people.
“Obviously, Steve Bruce is really experienced. He’s raring to go after his time off. I think he’s had to look after himself in the last month or so. Aggers and Clem have been really, really good for us.
“I think you can see in our play, we were so much more positive on Saturday. Granted, we didn’t play all that great football, but we were at it and everyone is looking forward to the future now.”
Hutchinson moved to Wednesday in 2014 from Chelsea and has 16 months left on his contract at Hillsborough.