Start key for Sodje

Akpo Sodje has warned his Sheffield Wednesday team-mates they must start the new Championship season with a bang.

The Owls suffered six straight defeats in the opening month of last season and were immediately cut adrift in the second tier of English football.

Brian Laws' men have been firing on all cylinders in pre-season and fit-again Sodje believes a good start is key to avoiding another campaign of near-disaster.

"The start is key, for the first six games if we win three games we'll be okay. We've just got to make sure we don't struggle this season. The first couple of games we need to win or get a draw - not to lose is our main plan," the 28-year-old told the Star.

Sodje added: "Hopefully we'll have a great start this season. We've had as good pre-season unlike last year when I think we didn't win a game. We've been to Holland, everybody is looking sharp and good. The manager just wants everybody to be fit and we're just looking forward to the first game."