The first Sheffield Wednesday line-up of the Dave Challinor era is confirmed.

Dave Challinor appears to have gone with a three-at-the-back system in naming his first line-up as Sheffield Wednesday manager, as the Owls take on Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park.

The suggestion comes as little surprise given Challinor has held a preference for the system in previous managerial roles. Henrik Pedersen experimented with a similar-looking system towards the end of his reign, partly due to difficulties the Owls were showing in defending transition phases.

With Ashley Maynard-Brewer in goal, an experienced back three of club captain Liam Palmer and returning duo Ricardo Santos and Di’Shon Bernard. Yan Valery, who it was confirmed will make contention for the upcoming clash against Plymouth Argyle having sat out the Tunisia squad, looks set to play at right wing-back with Jordi Liongola named on the opposite flank in what will be his first appearance a first day of the season outing against Bolton Wanderers in August. Liongola is preferred ahead of the benched Max Lowe, with clarity on that call to be sought post-match.

Barry Bannan, Jaden Heskey and Callum Slattery make up a midfield three with Billy Mitchell out injured. Slattery is expected to play furthest up the field behind a front two of Davis Keillor-Dunn and Jamal Lowe. Mason Burstow is believed to have picked up a knock.

The line-up suggests a preference towards a previous Challinor system, with the new Owls boss having spoken about the need to guard against those transition issues. Burstow’s absence adds to a long list of Wednesday absentees, though with numbers in defence beginning to swell it will be hoped the likes of Louie Barry can offer an important lift going forward in the coming weeks.