‘Liam Mannin has done a great job’ - Sheffield Wednesday boss Darren Moore hails MK Dons counterpart

Darren Moore has praised Liam Manning for transforming MK Dons into promotion contenders this season. Eyebrows were raised when the left-field appointment was made at the start of the campaign, with Manning arriving from Belgian second division side Lommel SK.

However, the 36-year-old - who managed Declan Rice while serving as a youth coach at West Ham - has turned the Dons from also-rans to promotion hopefuls. They currently sit second and are on the cusp of Championship football for only the second time in their 18-year history.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Moore is under no illusion of the job Manning has done since taking over at Stadium MK in August last year - just one day before the season opener.

"I think Liam's done a great job with them,” he told YorkshireLive. “He's shown continuity. I think he's moved the club on to another level in terms of the way they've gone about their business. They've been free-flowing. They've been consistent. They've been energised by some of the terrific play and we know that we face a very good team tomorrow.”

Tomorrow’s trip is the sternest test of the Owls’ promotion run-in. Second-placed MK Dons are unbeaten in 15 games and are the division’s in-form side. Moore, however, is treating the contest like any other game.

"It is a wonderful game and it whets the lips of everybody - it's live on TV,” he added. "You can see the context of the game. Both teams want to win tomorrow, that's added a bit more to it because both teams want to win the game for their own purposes.

"I think both teams are in a completely different physical and mental mindset and also at the same time. Some of the play both teams have done this season has been exceptional.”

"But it's another game for us. If you