The early-season form of Sheffield Wednesday has been recognised by the EFL after two wins from their three matches in August marked a stellar start to life back in League One.

An opening day win over Leyton Orient, a narrow defeat to Bradford City and the 7-2 hammering of Bromley were the Wednesday fixtures considered as part of the nomination process for the August manager and player of the month awards. Henrik Pedersen has been nominated, as has in-form forward Jamal Lowe, who bagged three goals and two assists across the three matches.

Pedersen’s ‘steadying presence’ in his handling of last season’s crisis-struck relegation campaign was acknowledged in the nominations for the award, along with his steering hand in what has been described as ‘turning around a losing habit’. He’ll go up against Huddersfield Town’s Martin Drury, Blackpool’s Ian Evatt and Jim McNulty of Stockport County.

Should he win the award, he’ll be the fourth Owls boss to do so after Paul Sturrock (November 2004), Alan Irvine (August 2010) and Dave Jones (March and April 2012).

Lowe is pitted against Bradford’s Matt Pennington, Huddersfield Town’s Joe Taylor and former Owls Bailey Peacock-Farrell, now of Blackpool. Should he take the gong he’ll become the eighth Wednesday winner of the award after current staff member Giles Coke (August 2010), Neil Mellor (April 2011), Ryan Lowe (August 2011), Miguel Llera (April 2012), vice-captain Barry Bannan (March 2022), academy staffer Lee Gregory (April 2022) and Owls skipper Liam Palmer (August 2022).

The winners will be decided by a panel comprising of pundit and former EFL forward Don Goodman, EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch and Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies - with the findings announced on Friday morning.