Sheffield Wednesday boss makes EFL Trophy vow as Di'Shon Bernard set to return and debut possible
Sheffield Wednesday will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they head to Salford City in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen has confirmed that he will take Tuesday night’s EFL Trophy opener against Salford City at the AIG Stadium “very, very seriously”.
The Owls will travel across the Pennines looking to secure a return to winning ways after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Stockport County at Hillsborough marked a second successive goalless draw.
Wednesday faced criticism from some corners for their showing against the Hatters, meaning Pedersen and his players will be under an element of pressure to get their EFL Trophy campaign off to a winning start.
The Owls, who will also face Accrington Stanley and Sunderland’s Under-21s in the group stage of the competition, have won each of their first three away games this season, meaning they will be determined to preserve their 100 per cent record on the road.
Although Pedersen is expected to make changes against the League Two side, who beat Swindon Town 1-0 on Saturday, the Dane is prepared to give the competition plenty of respect.
Pedersen told The Star: “We start with Tuesday evening, and on Tuesday evening we will put a good team on the pitch. We will take it very, very seriously, and we will have the best out of this game.
“I’m looking forward to Tuesday to make a good game.”
The trip to Salford is set to be used as an opportunity for defender Di’Shon Bernard to make his first-team comeback after 19 months on the sidelines through injury. The centre-back stored 45 minutes under his belt for the Under-21s against Charlton Athletic last weekend, and he could do the same again against the Ammies.
Pedersen continued: “It's still the goal that he will play on Tuesday. We have not decided this yet, but I imagine 45 minutes or something.”
Meanwhile, Pedersen has hinted that he could make a change in goal for the first time this season, bringing Joe Lumley’s run of nine consecutive starts to an end. Summer signings Ashley Maynard-Brewer and Connal Trueman, who were brought in alongside Lumley to rebuild Wednesday’s goalkeeping department, are still waiting to make their Owls debuts.
Asked if a change is possible between the posts, Pedersen, keeping his cards close to his chest, added: “Let's see, we'll speak about this tomorrow (Sunday).”