Loan star Lewis Wing liked Rotherham United but admits on eve of NYS return with Sheffield Wednesday: 'I didn't really want to go back.'

The midfielder will line up against the Millers for Sheffield Wednesday in this Saturday’s League One derby showshown at AESSEAL New York Stadium after moving to the Owls from Middlesbrough for the season.

Rotherham boss Paul Warne did his utmost to tempt Wing but the 26-year-old says his sights were always set elsewhere.

“He was trying to get me back all the way through the summer,” the player said. “I enjoyed my time there. It served its purpose but I didn’t really want to go back. I did my time there.

“Paul texted me quite a lot and I have got a good relationship with him.

“When I signed here (Wednesday), I got a text from Paul and the coaching staff wishing me the best and that was nice on their behalf.

“He left me a voice message as well saying: ‘Make sure you don’t score against us!’”

Wing was a revelation for the Millers in a Championship loan spell from January to May last season and his last-day goal at Cardiff City almost kept Warne’s men in the second tier.

He had the chance to remain in the higher division yet was happy to drop down to League One when a club the size of Wednesday came calling.

“I had quite a few offers in the Championship,” he said. “However, it was one of those where we might not be challenging for promotion or win week in, week out,” he said.

“There were a few floating around. It was more like the club had got to get a player out to get a player in and I didn’t want to wait for that.

“Obviously, I have dropped down a league, but with the standard of the squad we have got here it would do well in the Championship anyway.

“When this opportunity came up, I said to my agent that this was where I wanted to go.”

Wing is relishing the New York clash even though he unsure of the welcome he will receive after joining Rotherham’s South Yorkshire rivals.

“It will be good to go back there,” he said. “When I was there it was through Covid so I didn’t get to meet any of the fans.

“I don’t know what sort of reception I am going to get but it will be nice to meet them all.”

Warne’s tough training regime came as a culture shock to the midfield man when he first made his temporary switch from the Riverside Stadium.

“It was good; different to what I am used to,” he said. “The gaffer there was big on running. There weren’t many recovery days! It was just straight back to running.

“After the first couple of days, I messaged the people back at Boro saying ‘Is this normal? Are we supposed to be doing this?’ but I soon got used to it.”

He expects to be part of a promotion challenge with the Owls and is tipping the same for his old teammates in S60.

“They haven’t lost that many players, and Smudge up front, he is going to cause anyone in this league problems,” he said. “I think they will be right up there.

As for the friends he made in the Millers squad ...

“I might message one or two of the lads,” he said. “But once Friday comes around I will probably cut it off!”