Iké Ugbo situation explained as Sheffield Wednesday absence continues
Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen has suggested the ball is in Iké Ugbo’s court amid mounting uncertainty surrounding his S6 future.
The striker was absent from the matchday squad for the third game running on Saturday as Wednesday drew 0-0 with Championship table-toppers Coventry City at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Jerry Yates and Jamal Lowe were elected to lead Wednesday’s attack, joining forces at the top end of the pitch for the second game running, while attacking support via the bench came from Charlie McNeill and youngsters Will Grainger and Devlan Moses.
Ugbo, who joined Wednesday on a four-year deal from French club Troyes in August 2024, has struggled for game time in the second half of this season, making just three substitute appearances since Christmas. He has not started for the Owls since their 3-0 defeat to Sheffield United at Hillsborough on November 23.
The 27-year-old, who was close to leaving the Owls on loan during the January transfer window, missed ten consecutive matches between Christmas and the beginning of February due to a hamstring injury, but opportunities have been virtually non-existent since he regained fitness, raising questions about his future at Hillsborough. He has featured in just one of the Owls’ last nine matches.
Having been left out for recent Under-21s fixtures as well, it remains to be seen if Ugbo will feature in any capacity between now and the end of the season with Pedersen effectively challenging the striker to force his way back into his plans.
“Yes, we have had conversation, and he has had two good training sessions this week,” Pedersen told The Star after the draw at Coventry. “Let's see if he can also put pressure [on] and come back again.”
Making 24 appearances in league and cup for Wednesday this season, Ugbo, of course, has failed to live up to expectations since becoming a permanent resident at Hillsborough, scoring just two goals in 62 appearances.
Both of his two goals since becoming a permanent Wednesday player have been plundered in the Carabao Cup, scoring in a 5-1 win over Grimsby Town in the second round of the competition last season and getting the second in Wednesday’s 3-3 draw with Bolton Wanderers in the first round of this season’s edition of the competition.
Ugbo last scored a league goal for the Owls when they beat West Bromwich Albion 3-0 at Hillsborough in April 2024.