'FOOTBALL FORTUNES CAN CHANGE SO FAST'
The Football League Paper|March 10, 2024
XISCO Munoz never explained why Marvin Johnson was expelled from Sheffield Wednesday’s squad last summer.
Chris Dunlavy
'FOOTBALL FORTUNES CAN CHANGE SO FAST'
And it needed explaining. Wing-back Johnson was the second-highest goal contributor in the entire squad when the Owls won promotion from League One under Darren Moore last season.

In July, a fortnight after Moore’s abrupt resignation, the 33-year-old penned a new deal to extend his stay at Hillsborough.

Then Xisco turned up. Within days, Johnson was ordered to train away from the first team, stripped of his squad number and omitted from the official 25-man roster submitted to the EFL - a situation made all the more mystifying considering the list contained only 24 names.

When pictures emerged of Johnson training alone in Dubai, ex-Watford boss Xisco admitted that he wasn’t even aware of the former Middlesbrough man’s whereabouts.

“I only talk about the players we have,” was his standard response to queries about Johnson’s future.

Eight months on, things couldn’t be more different. Flatlining under Xisco, Wednesday are resurgent in the hands of 34-year-old German Danny Rohl, who replaced the unpopular Spaniard in October and immediately ended Johnson’s exile.

Now, he is integral to a backline that - ahead of Friday’s home fixture with Leeds - had kept four clean sheets in their previous six games, five of which ended in victory. Was this even imaginable during those long, lonely days in the desert?

“No, but to be honest I didn’t want to look that far,” say Johnson, who pre-weeken had provided three goals and four assists since returning to the side in November.

Esta historia es de la edición March 10, 2024 de The Football League Paper.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición March 10, 2024 de The Football League Paper.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE PAPERVer todo
CLASSY CURTIS GETS HIS REWARD
The Football League Paper

CLASSY CURTIS GETS HIS REWARD

DERBY County have tied influential centre-back Curtis Nelson down to a new contract that will keep him at Pride Park until 2026.

time-read
1 min  |
November 17, 2024
STATS ALL RIGHT FOR STUDIOUS MK BOSS SCOTT
The Football League Paper

STATS ALL RIGHT FOR STUDIOUS MK BOSS SCOTT

MK Dons boss Scott Lindsey has highlighted the importance of statistics following his side's recent good form.

time-read
1 min  |
November 17, 2024
SMITH'S FRATTON STUNNER IS TOPS!
The Football League Paper

SMITH'S FRATTON STUNNER IS TOPS!

MICHAEL Smith's stunning strike for Sheffield Wednesday against Portsmouth has won him the Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month award for October - but he admitted it could have gone 'over the stand'!

time-read
1 min  |
November 17, 2024
RED DRAGONS SUFER TRIPLE INJURY SETBACK
The Football League Paper

RED DRAGONS SUFER TRIPLE INJURY SETBACK

WREXHAM'S pursuit of a historic promotion from League One has been hit by a triple injury blow.

time-read
1 min  |
November 17, 2024
SMART GUY LAUNCHES AI PLAN TO AID CLUBS
The Football League Paper

SMART GUY LAUNCHES AI PLAN TO AID CLUBS

FORMER Rotherham, Hull and Sheffield Wednesday defender Guy Branston has launched a new AI venture that he says will revolutionise the way clubs engage with their fans.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 17, 2024
STRIKER BISHOP JUST SO GLAD TO BE BACK
The Football League Paper

STRIKER BISHOP JUST SO GLAD TO BE BACK

COLBY Bishop has expressed his delight at making an emotional goalscoring return for Portsmouth following open heart surgery this summer.

time-read
1 min  |
November 17, 2024
HUNGRY JAMIE'S IN GOAL GROOVE
The Football League Paper

HUNGRY JAMIE'S IN GOAL GROOVE

Prize winner is followed by Cup heroics

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 17, 2024
TASTY TERRIERS TAKE A BITE OUT OF UNITED'S YOUNG GUNS
The Football League Paper

TASTY TERRIERS TAKE A BITE OUT OF UNITED'S YOUNG GUNS

HUDDERSFIELD Town booked their place in the last 32 of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy in style with a thumping 4-1 home win against Manchester United U21s.

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 17, 2024
KENNY RECEIVES PRAISE OF BOSS BONNER
The Football League Paper

KENNY RECEIVES PRAISE OF BOSS BONNER

GILLINGHAM manager Mark Bonner says he will miss leaning on the experience of \"brilliant\" mentor Kenny Jackett.

time-read
1 min  |
November 17, 2024
WEAVER HAPPY TO GIVE ACE ENO HIS SHOT
The Football League Paper

WEAVER HAPPY TO GIVE ACE ENO HIS SHOT

HARROGATE Town boss Simon Weaver is hoping new striker Eno Nto can solve the Sulphurites' woes in front of goal.

time-read
1 min  |
November 17, 2024