Barry Bannan interview: Sheffield Wednesday captain on creativity, ditching alcohol and ending his career at Hillsborough

Barry Bannan has created more chances than any other player in English football.

You read that right.

The Scot has carved out 372 opportunities this season, which is 22 more than Kevin De Bruyne and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Over the course of the current season and the previous three, the Scot has carved out 372 opportunities, which is 22 more than Manchester City and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

He joined Wednesday at the start of the season and has 55 assists.

Statistics are not important to some and milestones are welcome.

Bannan likes to use them as a performance gauge as the numbers he is posting are growing more impressive by the season, even though he is edging closer to his mid 30s.

He is under no illusion.

He says that it's easier for him to make things happen because he plays at a harder level than Alexander-Arnold.

Being at the top of these things is what I base my game on. I try to get on the ball and make things happen.

I feel the same way if I play a nice pass and we score from it. I like setting up goals too much in the past. I feel honoured when I see that.

In Sky Bet League One this season, he has already set up six goals and scored four of his own, which is the third best return of his career. Bannan looked like he was in his peak when he was a few years past it.

What makes him perform at such high levels?

He admits that with experience, his mentality has changed, for example, he will take on a shot himself, instead of looking for a teammate.

His lifestyle off the pitch has been the most significant change.

He says that his life has changed because he has a wife and a child.

I used to go out and do things like that, but now I don't have the chance, so I'm living a cleaner life. It helps if you stay away from alcohol when you're older.

You can get away with it when you're younger because your body is used to it and you don't have to deal with a lot of alcohol. When I was younger, I was told by older players that it will catch you one day.

You have to learn from that and get rid of it. I only drink for special occasions.

It's no surprise that he feels like he's at the top of his game.

I know I'm not old, but I don't feel like I've lost my sharpness yet. I'm feeling good.

If you don't play well, you'll be the one on the bench and it was hard to find consistency when I was younger.

Consistency can be found through the fact that I've played almost every game I've been available for here. I think I'm at the top of my game at the moment.

I know I've dropped down a league, but it's still a hard, hard league and the numbers that I've put together are probably reflecting that I'm playing at the top of my game at the moment. I want to do better and aim higher.

Bannan's toils have been a key factor in the Owls' rise to the League One play-off places.

After 19 games,Darren Moore's men are a point outside the top two. They have won eight of the last 12 league games and have an 11 point cushion over seventh-place Pompey.

When the first weekend in May rolls around, they want to be back in the Championship after missing out on an immediate return.

We would like to win the league. Bannan says that they set out to be the No 1 team.

We're confident that we're close to getting what we want, despite the fact that there's still a long way to go. We're hoping for that.

We didn't know what the league was about last year, but we brought in players who know how to get out of it. There's a lot of tools in the bag.

This year, we had to come out of the box firing. We knew if we could get off to a good start it would help us in our quest to get promoted.

We need to keep moving because we don't find ourselves in automatic places at the moment.

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There could be a personal celebration on the way.

Bannan said in an interview that he was close to hitting a number of appearances that would lead to a one-year contract extension.

When that milestone is reached, there will be sighs of relief in the stands, but also for Bannan, who is looking forward to quietening the noise around his future.

It will be a big bonus for me and the club when it comes. We wanted to do it and I want to be here for the rest of my life.

I have a good chance of doing that if I continue to play the games. I can put to rest any rumors that I'm not going to be here next year and I can concentrate on getting promoted and out of the league.

Bannan might just get his wish if he keeps producing the way he has been.