CHELSEA know that Jimmy Smith is in good hands as he begins a six-month loan at Hillsborough.
The Premier League outfit were pleased with the way their striker Ben Sahar was treated and coached during his loan stay with the Owls last season - so much so that Wednesday received a letter of thanks.
It has cemented an amicable relationship between the clubs - one that was already evident when Stamford Bridge assistant manager Steve Clarke felt that the Owls were the right loan move for Sahar last season.
Sahar, aged 18. has now taken the next step up the career ladder by going on loan to a Premier League club, Portsmouth.
There was never any suggestion that he would be returning to Wednesday, who are not short of strikers as Akpo Sodje, Marcus Tudgay and Francis Jeffers head back to fitness - and both Sahar and Smith are hoping to establish themselves at Stamford Bridge in the long term. Smith, 21, is on loan with the Owls until January 10 and was due to train with them for the first time today.
Brian Laws said: "Jimmy wants a career with Chelsea and wants to prove to them that he can fulfil his potential, In the meantime, he is getting experience in the Championship.
"He has proved that he can score goals at this level, and he can play on either side or centrally; that sort of versatility is an asset to a squad such as ours. He also has good pace and fantastic energy..
"Chelsea were delighted with the we way we looked after Ben Sahar and coached him; I received a letter of thanks.
"It's opened a possible link for us for the future: Chelsea know that their players will be looked after if any of them come here."
Smith hit six goals for QPR in 22 League starts and seven appearances as a sub, in a loan spell at Loftus Road that lasted for most of the 2006-07 season.
He spent the first half of last season at Norwich, where he made nine appearances.
Sahar was expected to take a loan move to Holland at one stage this summer, but that deal fell through.
Laws added: "It did Ben the world of good, coming to us. I'm not sure how many games he's going to get for Portsmouth, but going out to a Premier League club is another move in the right direction for an 18-year old.
"He's an intelligent and energetic player who makes intelligent runs; I can imagine him finding space in a Premier League game."
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