The players who could immediately benefit from Sheffield Wednesday postponement confirmation
There’ll be a three-week gap in Sheffield Wednesday’s league fixture schedule as September turns to October.
The postponement of Sheffield Wednesday’s home date with Cambridge United has been confirmed - with an expected benefit to the injured cohort in the Owls squad.
Wednesday had to wait on official confirmation of the placing of some of its players to international squads for the upcoming round of international matches before they could postpone the October 3 match, with an alternative date to be confirmed in due course.
Clubs in League One and League Two are able to postpone league fixtures in the case of three players being included in their international squads, with newly-installed EFL rules making the criteria more stringent on what constitutes a first team player heading into the current campaign.
Both Kieran Morrison and Ali Al-Hamadi have already been announced as part of the Northern Ireland and Iraq squads respectively, while confirmation of call-ups are expected for the likes of Harry Gray (England u20s) and Yan Valery (Tunisia). Other players are also in-line for a call-up amid strong early season form.
Confirmation of the Cambridge postponement comes after next weekend’s trip to Stevenage met the same fate, with the earlier announcement arriving because three call-ups had been confirmed sooner at the Boro end. It means there will be an effective three-week break from League One football at Wednesday following this weekend’s visit of Stockport County, though EFL Trophy matches against Salford City and Sunderland u21s are to go ahead. Their following league match will be a tough test at Huddersfield Town on October 10.
Early season injuries have blighted the table-topping Owls squad already this season and it is hoped that the likes of Sil Swinkels, Jordi Liongola and Max Lowe will be ready or close to fitness by the time the Huddersfield trip comes around. When the postponed matches are to replayed is not yet known but it does open-up the chances of other players with longer-term issues being able to play a part.
Speaking ahead of the postponement last week, Owls boss Henrik Pedersen said: “If there is a break, then we will use the break for a little rest, and then we will use the break for a very tough week where we have to improve in the physical level, in all areas, and then we'll have a third week for preparation for the Huddersfield game. So it will be a combination of rest, then a tough week where we have to make the next level, and then a preparation week, and then they'll of course be a lot of individual conversation.”