Mellor eyes regular Owls spot

Neil Mellor is "desperate" to keep his place in the side after his first senior hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Hartlepool.

Mellor, on loan from Preston, took his tally for the season to nine as Wednesday cruised through to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Section semi-finals and believes he has benefited from a consistent run in Alan Irvine's side. The 28-year-old said: "I'm pleased because it's the longest I have been in the side. "It's four games on the bounce that I've started now, so I'm desperate to keep my shirt and obviously scoring goals helps. I'm feeling stronger and fitter and desperate to stay in the side." He added: "I was really pleased as it's my first senior hat-trick, so I'm delighted to get that hoodoo off my back. "It was nice to score three goals and it was nice to win at Hillsborough because it's been a few games."