Contrasting fortunes in their handful of games

Despite only making a handful of appearances, Sean McAllister can emerge from the 2007/08 season with his head held high. He was farmed out on loan to League Two strugglers Mansfield earlier in the season and was so often overlooked in terms of getting a first team chance for the Owls.

It was only when injury forced the managers hand that McAllister found a place in the squad but when his chance came, as a first-half substitute against QPR, he grabbed it with both hands. He helped to turn this game into three points and then started the next five games, during which the Owls were unbeaten. His energy provided a good foil for the more experienced Kavanagh in midfield and Kav's performances improved with McAllister beside him before injury cut short his season.

Overall season verdict: 7.5 out of 10. Would have been higher given more games, came into the side during a difficult period and more than played his part in the Owls survival.

Etienne Esajas joined in the summer from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem and was seen as the replacement for Chris Brunt, who left for West Brom. Given Brunt's influence in terms of assists and goals this was always going to a tough role to fulfil and in truth, Esajas has never looked like doing this adequately so far. While it is true that injury curtailed most of the second half of the season, even when he has been fit he has struggled to break into the side making just 5 league starts with 13 appearances as a substitute.

Overall season verdict: 5.5 out of 10. Signed on a 3-year deal and will be hoping to make a much bigger impact next term.