ALEX Neil said he had a chat with Barry Bannan before opting to pick him against his former side Sheffield Wednesday.
The former Owls’ skipper started in the 2-1 win at Hillsborough, playing the first 60 minutes before being replaced by Macaulay Langstaff.
It was the 36-year-old’s third appearance for the Lions after completing a move down south last month. Bannan had spent the previous ten-and-a-half seasons in Wednesday colours, making 477 appearances.
“I had a good chat with him about playing in the game and how he felt about it, because I did consider dropping him out,” Neil said. “But he’s a professional.
“It’s like anything, everybody’s an expert after the game, aren’t they? If he has a brilliant game and scores, that’s why we took him. He’s brilliant. If he has a poorer game, then maybe it affected him coming back to Sheffield Wednesday.
“So the narratives are already written before the game, aren’t they? I’m a professional. Barry’s a professional. He came here, he gave everything he’s got, and he’ll be really important for us between now and the end of the season.