Di'Shon Bernard injury update as Sheffield Wednesday set new return target date
Sheffield Wednesday defender Di’Shon Bernard has been out for almost a year after suffering a serious knee injury.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen has admitted he is hopeful long-term absentee Di’Shon Bernard will return before the end of the season - but his potential comeback date has been pushed back.
The centre-back, who joined Wednesday on a free transfer ahead of the start of the 2023/24 campaign, has been absent for almost a year after suffering a serious knee injury in a 2-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns back in February.
It was originally anticipated that Bernard, who is very highly rated by Wednesdayites, could have returned at some point in December, but that target date was pushed back last month after Pedersen confirmed he had undergone another operation to ease irritation in his knee and build it up to be stronger.
Following that latest surgical procedure, the Jamaican international is now progressing in the right direction, meaning he is slowly edging closer towards making his long awaited comeback.
However, although nothing can be guaranteed at this stage, Pedersen has identified March as a potential return date for the former Manchester United man after previously stating a February return may have been possible.
Pedersen issues Bernard update
"He's going better and better," Pedersen, addressing Bernard’s ongoing recovery, told The Star. "He had a small surgery where they had moved something, and after this it's really positive.
"So now he's starting to have a much better feeling with his knee and he's progressing well again. I think it's too early to say [when he could return], but in March I hope."
Elsewhere on the injury front, Pedersen, who has confirmed he does not anticipate he will recover anyone in time for New Year’s Day’s trip to Preston North End, is still waiting to discover the extent of Iké Ugbo’s suspected hamstring problem after he was absent for the second game running against Blackburn Rovers on Monday night.
The Owls boss added: “He has a problem with a nerve on the back side of his hamstring and we're working to find out what this exactly is.”