'Too early' - Henrik Pedersen makes honest Nathan Redmond admission after Sheffield Wednesday return
Sheffield Wednesday welcomed Nathan Redmond back into the squad at Deepdale - but it was not without its risks.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen has admitted it was “too early” to bring Nathan Redmond back into the team after he made his comeback from a groin injury against Preston North End at Deepdale on New Year’s Day.
After missing each of the last five matches, the former Norwich City and Southampton winger was a surprise inclusion in the matchday squad, being handed a place on the substitutes bench.
He came on with just under 25 minutes to go, replacing Jarvis Thornton, to make just his second appearance in Wednesday colours and his first since the 3-2 defeat to Preston at Hillsborough at the end of November.
With the Owls already 2-0 down and struggling to assert themselves on proceedings, it was difficult for Redmond to get himself into the contest.
In need of time to get up to speed, Pedersen revealed Redmond, who joined the Owls in November, signing a short-term deal until January, in an ideal world, should have been afforded more time to try and recover from his recent injury, but he was left with little choice but to call upon him amid a lack of senior players.
Pedersen admits Redmond risk
Speaking to The Star, Pedersen said: "Nathan has trained two or three times when it was a little bit, and yesterday (Wednesday) he had his first match training where he played a little bit of 6v6 and 7v7.
"So in principle, it's also too early to bring him [into the team], but we try to get the maximum out without taking too big risks. But, of course, there is big risk with many of the players."