“I want to get to a point where we can be really aggressive”

Dave Challinor wants Sheffield Wednesday’s physical levels to improve so they can play the attacking style he desires.

Injuries have been a problem for The Owls this season, and although the likes of Joe Lumley, Liam Cooper and Billy Mitchell are expected to return soon, the list of definite absentees, doubts and players whose minutes are being managed still includes Ashley Maynard-Brewer, Di’Shon Bernard, Ricardo Santos, Max Lowe, Reece James, Jordi Liongola , Tyler Onyango, Louie Barry, Harry Gray, Mason Burstow and Ali Al-Hamadi.

In his maiden match as Owls boss against Oldham Athletic, Challinor opted for a 3-4-2-1 formation before switching to a 4-2-3-1 as players were forced off with knocks and niggles. He explained that just because he set the side up in this way does not necessarily mean that it will always be the case and that the physical condition of the squad needs to improve for the way he wants to play in the long-term.

“Systems are what they are,” Challinor told The Star. “We'll play different systems to try and get overloads and get one v one situations in different parts of the pitch. When we build, will be a different system. When we defend, will be a different system. Whether that's a back four, a back five, whatever. Ideally, I want to get to a point where we can be really aggressive and we can be man-for-man physically. In order to be able to do that, you've got to be at the very, very top level, and we're not at that level physically at the moment. So that's something we need to work on.”

Challinor spoke fondly about the FA Cup in the build-up to the game, from his time as a player for Tranmere Rovers, to causing upsets as a manager. So to get dumped out of the competition by a League Two side was ‘disappointing.’

He added: “Regardless of what the competition is, the fact that 3,000 of our supporters have travelled and we've not sent them away happy. I think they're realistic and understand where we're at and what needs to be done, and we'll work to make sure that happens. We have to lift things. We have to be much better, not just on the pitch, across the board.”