Paul Jewell returns to Brighton tomorrow, five years after almost ending his playing career with Albion.

Sheffield Wednesday's new boss has come a long way since Liam Brady earmarked the Liverpudlian for a move to the Seagulls.

Brady was desperate for a goalscorer and Jewell spearheaded Albion's attack for an hour in a testimonial match for current youth team coach Dean Wilkins against QPR at the Goldstone in August 1995.

A deal never materialised, but Jewell has gone on to become something of a managerial gem.

He guided Bradford to the Premiership, then kept them up in dramatic fashion in their first season in the top flight.

They beat Liverpool at home on the last day to sentence Wimbledon to the drop.

Jewell sprang a surprise when he quit Bradford in June to join relegated Wednesday on a three-year contract.

He said on taking over: "I think I know what it takes to get back into the Premier League. A lot of hard work, a lot of passion, and also we have got some good players here."

They include big money foreign buys Gilles De Bilde and Gerald Sibon. Belgian striker De Bilde cost £3 million from PSV Eindhoven last summer, while Dutchman Sibon arrived from Ajax around the same time for £2 million.

Jewell is busily rebuilding the squad after a mass exodus. The biggest departure was Swedish midfielder Niclas Alexandersson. He has gone to Everton for £2.5 million.

A further six players have left Hillsborough on free transfers. Goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek went to Brescia, Peter Atherton and Ian Nolan to Bradford, Lee Briscoe to Burnley, Barry Horne to Kidderminster and Danny sonner last nigt linked up with Birmingham City.

Unsettled former England under 21 striker Andy Booth is Huddersfield-bound again after being linked with Wolves and Bradford, while fellow front man Richard Cresswell is expected to sign for Preston or Bristol City.

Italian teenager Michele Di Piedi is on his way to Wednesday from Italian Serie A side Perugia on a four-year contract.

Peter Shreeves, unable to steer the Yorkshire giants clear of relegation last season after replacing sacked former Seagull Danny Wilson, believes the capture of Piedi following a successful trial at Hillsborough is significant.

Shreeves, now Wednesday's coach and a close friend of Albion manager Micky Adams, said: "We are a First Division club now, but traditionally we are a Premier League club and have a lot going for us.

"We are a well established big name club and there are lots of players who want to come and play for Sheffield Wednesday. This lad is just one of them."

More new faces are on the way before Wednesday's opening First Division fixture, live on Sky, at Wolves on Sunday week.

Jewell, who has brought Welshman Terry Yorath with him from Bradford as his assistant, is being linked with Celtic keeper Jonathan Gould and Dundee United's Canadian international centre half Jason de Vos.

He also has a Brazilian goalkeeper, Nei, on trial. Jewell said: "We have made a couple of bids for players and hopefully we'll have three new players before we play Wolves."

Wednesday's pre-season fortunes have been mixed, although Sibon in particular has been in prolific form.

They kicked off with a 2-1 defeat at relegated Chesterfield, the team to watch out for in the Third Division this season according to Adams.

An earlier trip to Sussex resulted in a 3-1 win at Crawley, which was followed by a 3-0 victory at Stevenage and a 4-1 walloping of Wrexham. Jewell's men came back down to earth last Saturday when they were beaten 3-2 at Scunthorpe.

On Wednesday they came from 2-0 down at half time to draw 2-2 with runaway Dutch champions PSV in front of a 9,000 crowd at Hillsborough.

De Bilde reduced the arrears against his old club with a diving header 18 minutes from time and Booth flicked in Andy Hinchcliffe's corner at the near post with five minutes left.

A satisfied Jewell, speaking on the club's official website, declared: "At 2-0 down against a top quality side it would have been easy to throw the towel in.

"But fair credit to the players, they rolled their sleeves up and kept going. That's what we have to do from now on."

Norwegian Petter Rudi is unlikely to figure at Withdean tomorrow. He is recovering from an Achilles injury along with Phil Scott.

Another casualty with knee ligament damage is Phil O'Donnell. Simon Donnelly, like O'Donnell signed from Celtic on a free transfer a year ago, is just back from a similar problem.

Albion assistant Alan Cork knows from experience that fans in Sheffield are a passionate bunch.

Jewell might be forgiven for failing in the League this season as long as his side win both derby matches. Cork, a former Sheffield United forward, said: "They are fanatical about their football up there. I have never known anything like it."