New Wednesday capture James O'Connor is champing at the bit to get his Owls career underway.

The 28-year-old will complete the formalities of a three-year SWFC deal next week to become Brian Laws' first signing of the summer.

And O'Connor can't wait to knuckle down to pre-season training with his new team mates at Middlewood Road in readiness for next term.

He exclusively told swfc.co.uk: "I can't wait to get started, I'm really looking forward to it. It's a new challenge at a club with new training methods and that's a really good thing for my career at this stage."

The former Burnley ace signs for the Owls under the Bosman ruling having decided to seek pastures new in the current transfer window period.

He turned down the opportunity to extend his Turf Moor stay, instead opting to bring his combative engine room skills to Hillsborough. So what can Wednesdayites expect from O'Connor when the curtain rises on the new season?

"Hard work first and foremost," he insisted. "I like to win as well. But I don't want to make too many promises about what I can and cannot do, I'll let other people decide that."

The finger of fate has pointed to an early reunion for O'Connor and his erstwhile colleagues as Burnley travel over the Pennines to S6 for the first game of the 2008/09 Championship campaign.

He acknowledged the twist and said: "It's one of those things that just happen in football. You have to smile the way things work out.

"But I don't want to put too much emphasis on that right now, I'm concentrating all my efforts on the first day of pre-season training and getting a good start with Sheffield Wednesday under the belt."