Matt Hamshaw has a Sheffield Wednesday dilemma to try and solve vs Cambridge United
Sheffield Wednesday’s starting XI will be a big talking point ahead of their clash with Cambridge United.
Matt Hamshaw is tasked with overseeing a much-needed reaction when he takes interim charge of Sheffield Wednesday for the first time as they welcome Cambridge United to Hillsborough on Tuesday evening.
Following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Doncaster Rovers at the Club Doncaster Sports Village, which marked their second away defeat in five days, Wednesday parted company with manager Henrik Pedersen less than 24 hours later. Some fans had chanted ‘We want Henrik out’ during and after the game.
Wednesday made the decision to relieve Pedersen of his duties because of a lack of progress in recent performances. Despite being within touching distance of the play-offs, the Owls’ recent outings had done little to convince supporters that an immediate return to the Championship was possible under the Dane.
Having produced two flat and uninspiring performances against Notts County and Doncaster, Wednesday owe it to their supporters to produce a reaction when they welcome Cambridge to S6. The U’s are currently two places and two points ahead of Wednesday in the League One table.
Saturday’s trip to Doncaster saw Pedersen, surprisingly, switch to a 3-5-2 formation, meaning Kieran Morrison started at left wing-back, while Davis Keillor-Dunn partnered Ali Al-Hamadi up front. However, Wednesday quickly reverted to a more familiar 4-2-3-1 shape following Owen Bailey’s early brace for the hosts.
Whether Hamshaw, who will oversee first-team matters until Pedersen’s replacement is appointed, will stick or twist when it comes to formation remains to be seen. However, given the current landscape of Wednesday’s squad and the personnel available, it seems somewhat likely that the former Owls winger will stick with a 4-2-3-1.
Given the nature of Saturday’s performance, particularly in the first half, changes to the starting line-up are inevitable. Too many players underperformed, meaning changes should be a given.
One player expected to return to the team is Callum Slattery, who missed the trip along the M18 through suspension after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season against Notts last Tuesday night.
Slattery, who was signed during the summer, had started every League One fixture prior to the trip to Doncaster, meaning he is likely to be reinstated to the team. However, in each of his last two starts, he has been forced to play out wide due to Keillor-Dunn’s presence in the No.10 position.
The aforementioned role is a natural fit for both Slattery and Keillor-Dunn, meaning Hamshaw must decide who gets the nod in the central position of the three-man attacking line behind the lone striker. If Slattery gets the nod, Keillor-Dunn could be instructed to start at the tip of Wednesday’s attack for the first time since the 2-1 win over Peterborough United last month.
Keillor-Dunn, by his own admission, is at his best when playing as a No.10 just behind the striker. However, he has played as a No.9 in the past and has scored goals in League One from that position.
Other alternatives Hamshaw could consider to spearhead Wednesday’s attack include Mason Burstow, who returned to the matchday squad against Doncaster, and Al-Hamadi. Jamal Lowe, who has been Wednesday’s chief striker so far this season, will be absent once again against Cambridge as he serves the second match of a three-game ban.
Burstow, who has scored one goal since arriving on loan at Hillsborough in August, was introduced at half-time against Doncaster and forced goalkeeper Tommy Simkin into making three saves. He could do with scoring to regain some confidence and remind Wednesday why they brought him to Hillsborough.
With a striker in the mould of Michael Smith or Lee Gregory, for example, missing from Wednesday’s attacking arsenal, there is no standout candidate to lead the line. This presents Hamshaw, and eventually Pedersen’s permanent replacement, with a dilemma to solve.