Why Darren Moore’s arrival at Sheffield Wednesday could be music to Izzy Brown’s ears …

The next few months are big for Izzy Brown. His contract with Chelsea is running out and he hasn’t had the 2020-21 season he was hoping for at Hillsborough – but there’s still time to change that.

At the weekend, Brown got his first Wednesday start since September and played a huge role in the first-half performance, with the Owls entering the break with a comfortable 2-0 lead.

In the second half, things collapsed, but the 24-year-old showed a glimpse of what he is capable of when released and what kind of threat he can be. He made two key passes.

With his intelligence, his eye for the pass, his strength and his creative prowess, Brown could be exactly the type of player the new manager is looking for to play behind the striker. He has the attributes needed if Moore is looking to move Wednesday into the 4-2-3-1 he has become known for.

He’s a similar build to Doncaster Rovers’ Taylor Richards, and you can’t help but believe Brown would be very well placed to take on the offensive role in central midfield behind whoever is supposed to take the lead.

On loan to Rovers from Brighton & Hove Albion, Richards has scored six goals and four assists this season and is considered an integral part of a largely successful season before Moore’s departure.

The Donny midfielder has averaged 1.6 key passes per 90 minutes for his team this year – and 1.5 of those are short balls trying to open things up. Brown’s average 1.8 and 1.6 short passes, the highest of any other in the club. You can’t help but wonder what he could do with more minutes.

Given that Moore has known him for years and worked with him in the youth department of West Bromwich Albion, he could be the man to give them to him.

The new Owls boss named Brown during his first press conference on Monday and talked about how he’s worked with him at the youth level, and he’ll no doubt have been delighted to see a familiar face upon his arrival on Middlewood Road – even if it is so. A few years have passed since their last collaboration.

It remains to be seen whether the midfielder will make another start tonight at Hillsborough but he will face another of his former loan clubs and show his new coach that he can live up to his potential all those years ago at West Brom.

Wednesdays have 14 games to save their season and secure their championship status, and there is absolutely no doubt that a fit and firing Izzy Brown could play a big part in that.

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