Sheffield Wednesday hit with Di'Shon Bernard reality after new surgery - fresh return target revealed
The likely return date of injured Sheffield Wednesday defender Di’Shon Bernard has once again been pushed back after the success of a necessary surgery.
The Jamaica international hasn’t played since sustaining a serious knee injury in a Championship clash at West Brom last February and has seen his target return date pushed back along the way, as can often be the case in long-term rehabilitation programmes. Then Wednesday boss Danny Röhl had initially spoken hopefully about Bernard’s involvement in pre-season before December was set as a potential return to contention.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s visit of Preston North End to Hillsborough, Owls manager Henrik Pedersen revealed it would likely be February before he is back in action on the field after a further procedure was deemed important to ease irritation in his knee and build it up to be stronger.
“He had a small surgery in his knee again and since then it is much, much better,” Pedersen told The Star. “Now he does not feel a small irritation there all the time. Now he has a better feeling and a better trust that it will be really, really good again. He does not feel this all the time.
“We have a Dish who is really, really, really looking forward to coming back onto the training pitch and playing games again, but I think it will be February before we take steps in this direction.”
Fan favourite Bernard has been seen around S6 on matchdays and is known to have taken a keen interest in the progress of some of the club’s younger players, travelling to Carabao Cup matches earlier in the campaign to lend a more senior voice to the changing room. “He is a fantastic guy in the dressing room and when he comes to our games or is watching training, he goes to the younger guys to give advice,” Pedersen continued. “He’s a really great guy.”