Josh Windass bidding to exorcise Old Firm demons on Steel City derby debut

Owls ace Josh Windass, 30, is getting his hairsbreadth chopped by a Sheffield United-supporting barber earlier Sunday's hugely-anticipated Steel City derby truthful is fearing what to expect

Josh Windass indispensable support an oculus connected the Blades successful each consciousness of the connection this weekend.

The in-form Sheffield Wednesday prima gets his archetypal sensation of the Steel City derby erstwhile the fierce rivals conscionable astatine Bramall Lane connected Sunday. But earlier that he’s got to participate different cauldron of occurrence - the blistery spot of his Sheffield United-supporting hairdresser. Windass, 30, admitted: “My barber really is simply a Blade truthful I’m hoping he’s not going to butcher maine earlier the weekend.

“I said to him yesterday ‘make definite you don’t ruin my haircut for Sunday.’ But helium said helium couldn’t committedness maine thing truthful we’ll spot however it goes. And I played with Kieffer Moore [at Wigan] but isolated from that, I don’t cognize immoderate of their players. My aged antheral is truly bully friends with Chris Wilder, though.

“I deliberation helium did his coaching badges with him truthful possibly they’ve had a portion oregon 2 unneurotic astir the years. I’m going to permission Chris unsocial due to the fact that my aged antheral volition hammer me.”

Dean Windass, of course, besides concisely played for some clubs successful his distinguished career. After relegation from the Premier League, Wilder’s United are flying precocious successful 2nd spot portion the Owls are down successful 15th. The Steel City derby has been astir for 134 years but the warring neighbours haven’t faced each different since 2019 making Sunday’s conflict each the much hugely anticipated.

Forward Windass knows plentifulness astir derby occasions having featured for Rangers against Celtic but helium ne'er won successful 7 meetings. He has already earned a spot successful Owls folklore aft hitting a last-minute Wembley victor successful the League One play-off last past year.

Windass admitted: “My extremity successful an Old Firm crippled was successful a decision unluckily truthful if I tin people a victor successful a Sheffield derby that would beryllium amazing. I’ll beryllium going into the crippled with assurance and content similar I usually do.

“But the purpose is not to people the winner, conscionable for the squad to win. I would comparison it [Steel City derby] to Glasgow successful that it means everything to everyone. It’s similar a goldfish vessel benignant of country here: you’re either Sheffield United instrumentality oregon Sheffield Wednesday. That’s however it is and it’s each radical attraction about.

“I person adjacent friends present who are Wednesday fans who are virtually telling maine they don’t spell to the crippled due to the fact that it’s astatine their stadium. That’s however large the rivalry is. I’m looking guardant to sampling the ambiance - and if it’s thing similar an Old Firm ambiance I cannot wait.”

Windass, who has scored 3 goals successful his past six league games, says determination are immoderate differences having revealed what it was similar bumping into Celtic players astir Glasgow. He said: “There would conscionable beryllium nary speech astatine all, nary oculus contact. You wouldn't accidental a word: you wouldn't situation successful lawsuit idiosyncratic saw you.

"I don't beryllium and person a java with anybody [in Sheffield] but I'll accidental ‘hello.’ Last play I'd spot Jon Egan and Flecky [John Fleck]. We weren't precisely friends but we were much polite. There’s nary hiding spot connected however good they [United] are doing; I’m not going to travel connected present and slag anyone off.

“They’ve had a superb commencement to the play and are a truly bully trial for america astatine the weekend. They look bully arsenic a portion arsenic they’re not conceding galore goals. But immoderate squad tin concede done bits of bully play and bits of magic - and we person plentifulness of players who tin unfastened defences up. I’m looking guardant to the challenge.”

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