How Sheffield Wednesday could line up vs Birmingham City following latest injury blows
Sheffield Wednesday’s injury crisis is continuing to run deeper and deeper.
There are three guarantees in life: death, taxes and Sheffield Wednesday picking up injuries.
Ahead of tonight’s Championship clash with Birmingham City at Hillsborough, it is understood wing-backs Sean Fusire and Yisa Alao have become the latest additions to the Owls’ long list of absentees.
The Star understands Fusire required a scan after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth at Hillsborough and that has confirmed he now faces up to six weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, while Alao could miss the next few games due to an unspecified issue.
With those two the latest victims of Wednesday’s never-ending injury curse, Owls manager Henrik Pedersen will be forced into a minimum of two changes for tonight’s visit of Birmingham, who will be going in search of their first Championship away win since October.
Wednesday, despite bringing in goalkeeper Murphy Cooper and midfielder Jaden Heskey on loan from QPR and Manchester City respectively last Friday, are down to the bare-bones with up to 14 players in danger of missing tonight’s game. Among those expected to miss out are the likes of Dominic Iorfa, Liam Cooper, Max Lowe, Di’Shon Bernard and Ernie Weaver, highlighting the extent of Wednesday’s injury problems at centre-back.
With that in mind, the losses of Fusire and Alao add to Pedersen’s plate, amid his preference to play with a back-three supported by two wing-backs.
Since Christmas alone, Pedersen has been forced to deploy four different back-three combinations in six games. Liam Palmer came back into the starting XI on Saturday, likewise Yan Valery, who had recently returned from the Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON], and started either side of Gabriel Otegbayo in the back-three.
But following the loss of Fusire, who had a solid game against Portsmouth, either Palmer or Valery are likely to have to start at right wing-back in the event of Pedersen sticking with his preferred system. Both Palmer and Valery are capable of playing on the flank amid their versatile profiles, but it will mean more disruption to the backline nonetheless.
If Valery, for example, moves to right wing-back, Palmer may swap left-sided centre-back for the right-sided centre-back berth this evening, making room for Cole McGhee to come into the starting XI and offer the Owls a left-footed presence on the left of the back-three.
McGhee, who will turn 20 next week, has made two Championship starts this season and was particularly assured in the 0-0 draw with Blackburn Rovers at Hillsborough last month.
With Alao also sidelined, a change at left wing-back is required. The 17-year-old banked his first Championship start on Saturday, keeping his place in the team after starting the FA Cup defeat to Brentford the previous weekend.
The left wing-back spot recently opened up after Harry Amass returned to Manchester United following the conclusion of his loan spell. Wednesday have not given up hope of re-signing the 18-year-old.
With Valery, Palmer, Otegbayo, McGhee and Johnson potentially making up Wednesday’s rearguard, Heskey could partner Barry Bannan in midfield for the first time. Heskey arrived on loan from Manchester City last Friday and came off the bench in the second half against Portsmouth, meaning he will be pushing for a first start.
Svante Ingelsson, so often the workhorse of this team, could start ahead of those two and drift wide like he so often tends to do. The Swede has been one of Wednesday’s most consistent performers this term.
Up front, two of Bailey Cadamarteri, Jamal Lowe and Charlie McNeill are expected to start. The latter started on the bench at the weekend, meaning he will be pushing for a recall.
The prospect of McNeill starting would freshen up the forward line in the midst of a three-game week.
Possible Owls XI vs Birmingham: Cooper; Palmer, Otegbayo, McGhee; Valery, Heskey, Bannan, Johnson; Ingelsson; Cadamarteri, McNeill.