Ex-Liverpool striker Peter Crouch spotted watching Sheffield Wednesday v Bournemouth in Portugal

Sheffield Wednesday can look back with fondness on their Portugal training camp. The first team squad returned to the UK in the early hours of Saturday morning, having got through plenty of work in the Algarve sunshine.

The trip abroad gave Darren Moore the opportunity to bed in his seven new recruits into his 3-5-2 formation. Many of them are quickly coming to terms with the way Moore wants the team to play.

There were plenty of positives Moore could take from the behind-closed-doors friendly with Bournemouth. Watched on by former England international and Liverpool striker Peter Crouch, the Owls more than held their own for long periods against Premier League opposition.

Why Akin Famewo and Michael Smith missed Sheffield Wednesday's friendly against Bournemouth

There were a number of impressive individual performances. Ben Heneghan barely put a foot wrong in defence, George Byers was a bundle of energy in midfield and Josh Windass caused the Cherries plenty of problems in attack.

Things are also hotting up in the battle to be the Owls' No 1 heading into the 2022/23 season. Although David Stockdale was given a longer run-out than Cameron Dawson, they both performed well. The save Dawson produced to keep out Jefferson Lerma's header was outrageously good.

Is there still room for improvement? Definitely.

Defensively Wednesday could have done better for Bournemouth's two goals. There are certainly lessons to be learnt.

Results, though, are irrelevant in pre-season. The focus is all about getting players match fit for a demanding 10-month marathon.

With a fortnight to go until their League One opener at home to Portsmouth, Moore's men look in good shape. "We come out of the Portugal trip really pleased," he said.

"We got