Jon Newsome is optimistic about Sheffield Wednesday's future ahead of Sunday's final-day encounter with Norwich City.

Neither team has much to play for ahead of mid-table finishes but the Owls have lost just two of their last nine games following a 0-0 draw away to champions Wolves last weekend.

Newsome, writing in his Sheffield Star column, started and finished his career at Wednesday but also captained Norwich after being signed from Leeds for £1million in 1994, making 76 appearances and being named player of the season in 1995.

'Jos Luhukay has most definitely steadied the ship and with the slow trickle of injured players becoming available, the performances and results have improved,' writes Newsome,

'It then leads us to the final game of what has been a highly turbulent and extremely disappointing season this Sunday against Norwich. They say that you find out more about people or players when they are facing adversity and I think that can be seen as the case this season.

'I would have thought that the majority of supporters wouldn't have really envisaged us finishing in the bottom half of the table and that has been dramatically improved over recent weeks with some excellent performances. This gives you some optimism for what lies ahead and I think it is good that the club have already started the rebuilding process.'

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Those decisions have included informing experienced duo Glenn Loovens and Ross Wallace that they will not be getting new contracts, with the return to fitness of striker Fernando Forestieri helping to win five of their last eight games.

'I think that the majority (of players) will concede that collectively they haven't produced this year and it has been disappointing for the players, the fans and the club,' continued Newsome, who now owns a prestige car dealership in Sheffield, having had to retire at 30.

'I thought that we over-achieved when we got to Wembley and then the shadow of disappointment of losing to Huddersfield last season never seemed to leave the club, especially under Carlos Carvalhal.

'Jos (Luhukay) has come in at a really difficult time and as I have said there are some real reasons to be optimistic.'