Sky Sports pundit makes League One prediction that Sheffield Wednesday supporters will love

Sky Sports pundit Jobi McAnuff has backed Sheffield Wednesday to win the League One title this season. The Owls came up agonisingly short in their first year back in the third tier of English football, falling to a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Sunderland in the play-off semi-finals.

But Wednesday overhauled their first team squad over the summer following the promotion near-miss. Eight new additions have arrived and many observers have installed Darren Moore's side to be among the favourites for a top-two finish.

The Owls will be keen to make a strong start to the season when they take on Portsmouth at Hillsborough in their opening league fixture on Saturday. Speaking as part of the English Football League's launch day, McAnuff predicted Wednesday will finish top of the pile.

The former West Ham United and Reading midfielder said: "I feel certainly for Darren Moore that at the back end of last season that their form at Hillsborough was absolutely incredible. I think they have gone out and strengthened in key areas.

"Will Vaulks coming into that midfield are will be absolutely huge and adding a goal-scorer to their ranks in Michael Smith is going to be a big factor in them doing well.

"We then have to talk about Barry Bannan. For me, he is one of the best players in the league, if not the best player. I am also championing him as a bit of an older statesmen at 32 now and still pulling the strings. I think if they can give him that licence to go and make things happen then again he is going to have another standout season.

"I certainly feel they are heading in the right direction, having gone close last year, to go that one extra step further this year and get automatic promotion."