Behind scenes answer to Sheffield Wednesday's Ernie Weaver question with Gabriel Otegbayo route outlined
Sheffield Wednesday take on Peterborough United on Saturday hoping to continue their fine form.
A battle for ascendency between two talented young defenders is no bad thing for Sheffield Wednesday - with the pair having come together to see-out an important win at Wycombe Wanderers in midweek.
The Owls are contending with injuries in defence, with Sil Swinkels and Ricardo Santos having joined Di’Shon Bernard in the treatment room in the past fortnight. Santos will be subject to a last-gasp fitness test heading into this weekend’s trip to Peterborough United.
Liam Cooper came off late from his star turn at Wycombe with cramp, bringing his starting partner Gabriel Otegbayo together with Ernie Weaver as Wednesday clawed out a battling 2-1 win. Republic of Ireland youth international Otegbayo has had his ups and downs this season and drew criticism for an error in the lead-up to Wycombe’s opener - before escaping punishment for what looked to be a strong handball penalty shout late on in the clash.
Thrown into the side during last season’s horrors, 22-year-old Otegbayo is continuing his development and has featured in each of the Owls’ outings this season across league and cup. Fans have asked why Weaver - who earned plaudits in a short stint in the seniors last season before falling to a long-term injury - hasn’t been offered the opportunity to step in.
Speaking ahead of the trip to London Road, Owls boss Henrik Pedersen suggested it has taken some time for the 19-year-old to readjust to life after injury - and to the new levels set by Wednesday’s transformed squad. With work undertaken on getting back up to speed, the hope is that he can come closer to more regular contention.
“Ernie has had a tough pre-season, but he has learned a lot,” Pedersen said. “Before he got injured last season everyone was blown away. He did an amazing job in our back three as the central player. And then to come back for Ernie and to be a part of a totally new squad we could really feel the difference when he left. The squad he was a part of before he got injured? The squad he came back to was a big, big difference in level.
“And it has been tough for him, but how strong he has been mentally to work, work, work, head up, work, work. And he has grown in the test game by the first team and then he has played now some under-21 games. And I think he did a good job.
“And I also think when he came in now, I know it was only 10 minutes for Coops. It was not an easy game to come into because we are 2-1 up. And if something happened, who are we looking at? We look at Ernie. But how he handled this situation was really, really good. So he is coming closer and closer.”
For Otegbayo, the route to improvement is a familiar one. Praised for many of his performances in what was so often an under-siege Wednesday backline last season, the Cork-born youngster has been long-advised to bring concentration over a full match to his game. Efforts are being continued to ensure his development continues, Pedersen detailed.
“We see a young man who had a really good January, February, March, April last season,” he said. “He was strong, he developed a lot. He developed a lot in the season before when he could not play 90 minutes. Then he started to play 90 minutes. Then he should start to concentrate for 90 minutes and he improved a lot.
“He had a good top level. But the young man has to keep on concentrating for 95, 96, 98 minutes. And then it is natural for all young players, when they have to take some development and grow, they also need to have some challenge. Right now he has had some challenges, with the first goal and with the hand. But he is working really, really well and we support him all that we can. And I am sure he will also come through this and will come out on a higher level.
“He is a good guy and he works hard. He has to keep on doing this and then it will also be good for him.”