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Never a Gray day for Michael
Michael Gray may be in his 18th season as a professional but the former England left-back has been given a new lease of life at Wednesday.
Gray, above, is now 35 and getting used to playing right midfield after close to two decades as a full-back.
But the switch is clearly working as he laid on the opener at Hillsborough before adding his first goal for the Owls with a rare header.
Gray joined on a one-year deal from Wolves in the summer after a successful loan spell at the tail end of last season. And he feels his longevity can be put down to a more responsible attitude.
Involved in a nightclub clash with England star Wayne Rooney three years ago, Gray insists those days are behind him. He said: “It’s just a case of looking after myself, which I do now.
“I’m not silly. I lead a very good lifestyle and I know I can’t burn the candle at both ends because of my age.
“It’s the best job in the world. I don’t know what they’d have to do to get me to stop at the minute. I’m enjoying it so much, I’m just going to keep on going.”
Gray crossed for Jermaine Johnson to open the scoring, then nodded in from a throw-in, but Jacob Butterfield and Jon Macken replied for relegation favourites Barnsley.
Macken said: “If you get a good start then, come Christmas and the transfer window you can get more players in and push up the league.”