Owls boss Henrik Pedersen has hinted at a team selection decision that will please supporters.

For many weeks fans have called for defender Ernie Weaver to start more games. The young centre-back showed plenty of promise in Championship outings last season before a long-term injury scuppered his campaign.

The young centre-back’s minutes have been limited this term as he builds back up to full fitness. He has been playing in the under-21s to get up to speed.

With Di’Shon Bernard ruled out of Saturday’s trip to Doncaster Rovers with a knee niggle, and with Pedersen confirming that Gabriel Otegbayo will come out of the spotlight after a tough start to the season, Weaver looks set to feature more from now on.

Pedersen told The Star: “Now he had played more games, he has started to be more fit, and he has started to be more match-fit, and yeah, he's a theme now for the squad and playing time. “

Confirming that a possible loan move for Weaver has been scrapped, Pedersen added: “It’s on hold because we are down on centre-backs, and we made it on hold because we also think he can be in the squad and he has chance for game-time.”

Otegbayo’s difficult season continued on Tuesday night, giving away a penalty against Notts County after coming on for Bernard, before being substituted himself, but Pedersen praised some of his other contributions.

He added: “I think in the last two games where he (Otegbayo) came in, I think he did well, and yeah, then he had a tough game, and I think now it's time for a little rest for him. And then Ernie Weaver he can make a step up in this. So I think it's natural. But I think the last two games Gab came in it was good, but of course he had difficulty with Tuesday.”