LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 29: Aden Flint and Josh Windass of Sheffield Wednesday celebrate after the Sky Bet League One Play-Off Final between Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley Stadium on May 29, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Sheffield Wednesday promotion hero Aden Flint claimed he’d welcome a return to Hillsborough this summer. The 33-year-old is without a club following the end of his loan with the Owls and having been released by his parent club Stoke City.
Flint etched his name into Wednesday folklore in the second leg of the semi-final with Peterborough. Thrown on with just minutes of normal time remaining, his back post header teed up Liam Palmer to send the game to extra-time having trailed 4-0 from the first leg.
The Owls famously went on to win the semi-final on penalties. They followed that up by defeating Barnsley with a last-gasp Josh Windass goal at Wembley to return to the Championship after a two-year exile.
Flint played no part in the final. Still, that hasn’t deterred him from wanting to join Darren Moore’s squad for next season and in a recent interview, the centre-back claimed that he’d love to stick around.
He told The Star: “I was committed to Sheffield Wednesday and getting them over the line, getting it done. We’ve done it and that’s all that matters at the end of the day.
“I’ve had success now at this club. It’s brilliant. It’s a great group of lads, great staff with a great manager. The fans are unbelievable. I’d love to come back, of course I would, but we’ll see what happens.”
Flint would welcome return to Wednesday and he’d be a sensible signing
Offering a permanent deal to a 33-year-old perhaps wasn’t what Wednesday supporters wanted to see following promotion. However, when you think about it this deal does make a lot of sense.
Dominic Iorfa and Michael Ihiekwe have both had injury troubles in the past and Flint has always proved himself as a reliable performer.
Flint has played the vast majority of his career in the Championship. He’s made 267 appearances in the second tier and knows the league inside and out.
The defender might not be a first choice at Wednesday next season should he sign. But, he’d be a cheap option to come in and provide a calming influence around a dressing room that he’s already well-respected in.
Flint would welcome the chance to return to the Owls ahead of pre-season training. With that in mind, the club could do a lot worse than offer him a short-term deal at Hillsborough.
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‘Attack the Championship’ – Sheffield Wednesday star makes pledge to Owls supporters
Sheffield Wednesday aren’t just going to make up the numbers in the Championship – they’re aiming to make a real impact. That’s the message sent loud and clear by goalkeeper Cameron Dawson.
The 27-year-old racked up a second straight promotion, helping Wednesday clinch glory in the League One play-off final a year after aiding Exeter’s rise from League Two.
And the academy product insists that Darren Moore’s side will aim to use the momentum gained this term to give it their best shot at the second tier. Speaking to the media post-match after their Wembley success, Dawson said: “It’s there if we want it. It’s there for us to kick on and they’ll be trying to do that upstairs with the manager as well.
“When you play for a club like Sheffield Wednesday in League One there’s pressure and credit to all of the lads because we’ve taken that pressure and kept picking ourselves up.
“We broke lots and lots of records and I’m really grateful to be part of this team. I’ll go on holiday for a couple of weeks then we’ll attack the Championship.
“It feels surreal saying it because I wouldn’t let my mind wander during the season.” He added; “I don’t need to say too much on what I think of this football club because I am one of them (supporters).”
Wednesday discover their fixture schedule for next season on Thursday, June 22
