Sheffield Wednesday's injury status likelihood as camp look forward to Sheffield United showdown
The next one is a monster.
The bulk of Sheffield Wednesday’s squad are enjoying a few days rest and recuperation at the start of their two-week international break, though it’s understood some of those short on minutes in recent weeks may feature in this evening’s under-21 run-out at Huddersfield Town.
Beyond the break sits perhaps the biggest fixture a Sheffield Wednesday season can present; the Steel City derby at Hillsborough. Sheffield United will arrive having earned just a couple of points more than their blue-eyed rivals, with both sides sat in the relegation zone. Wednesday’s off-field struggles have of course sent them to the bottom of the table, a daunting 17 points short of the safety line.
For both sides, the November 23 battle looks to be seismic for very different reasons. The mood sensed from the Wednesday camp is that it’s a one-off challenge they are looking forward to.
In an already thin squad, Wednesday have been battling injury trouble, with first choice goalkeeper Pierce Charles leading the list of absentees alongside Ernie Weaver, Olaf Kobacki, Nathaniel Chalobah, George Brown. Fringe youngsters Gui Siqueira and Rio Shipston are also on their way back from issues, while long-term absentee Di’Shon Bernard is still weeks from a return to contention with his long-term knee injury.
Some of those names are well on their way to recovery, but speaking to The Star over the weekend, Owls boss Henrik Pedersen suggested the squad would likely be the same as it is for the derby - though efforts are being made to get the green light on some free agent additions.
“It will be the same amount as now,” he said. “Let's see with Olaf, let's see with Nate. But for all of them it will be later, probably December.”