“It’s astonishing really…” – Tony Pulis on his Sheffield Wednesday situation and the Championship load
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The Owls and their counterparts in the English Football League have had a busy schedule so far this season, and last week was the first time that Pulis’ side haven’t had a midweek game since his arrival at the club.
Wednesday are dealing with a host of injury concerns at the moment – so much so that they could almost fill an XI with their injured first-team players – and the manager admits that it’s not an easy period for any of the clubs in the division.
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Hide AdSpeaking after the 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers, the Wednesday boss told the media, “It’s the weight, the load, that’s been put on football clubs in the Championship to get as many games as possible played before Christmas.
“They tend to force as many matches through so that if games are called off or people go further in the cup then they’ve got weeks spare after Christmas.
“If you look at the time I’ve been at this football, we’ve had midweek games every week apart from last week - and I gave them a couple of days off because they needed it.
“So I haven’t really - and it’s amazing - had a full weeks’ training with them, and I won’t again until after the new year. It’s astonishing really.”
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Hide AdAnd Wednesday’s schedule continues with a visit from Neil Warnock and Middlesbrough tomorrow night as SWFC face another quick turnover.
For Boro, meanwhile, they’ll have had 10 days since their last game of football by the time they face Wednesday due to the postponement of their game against Rotherham United due to positive COVID-19 tests from the Millers – but Pulis won’t be using that as an excuse.
He said, “Sometimes it works for you, sometimes it works against. We know what Neil’s team will be like, and the lads will be made well aware of that.”
Wednesday face Boro at 7pm on Tuesday evening.