Henrik Pedersen outlines the key behind Gabriel Otegbayo's Sheffield Wednesday progress
Gabriel Otegbayo notched his first goal in over a year in Sheffield Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic at the weekend.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen has saluted the continued development of centre-back Gabriel Otegbayo, using an internet connection analogy to explain the impressive nature of his progress.
The defender marked his 26th Championship start of the season with a goal on Saturday, scoring his second in Wednesday colours to earn them a point against Charlton Athletic at Hillsborough.
After Addicks striker Matt Godden had given the visitors the lead shortly after half-time, Wednesday pulled themselves level with just under 15 minutes remaining when Otegbayo turned the ball home from close range after goalkeeper Will Mannion spilled Sean Fusire’s cross from the left.
The centre-back, who has made steady progress since establishing himself as a regular starter just after Christmas, was in the right place at the right time to turn the ball home and celebrate his first goal since January last year. It was a moment his performances in recent months have deserved.
The 21-year-old is one of countless youngsters who have had to step up before their time this season, but he is arguably the youngster who has shown the most promise, becoming more and more consistent with his performances.
And in the opinion of Owls boss Pedersen, who has frequently praised Otegbayo’s development and leadership skills this season, the centre-back’s recent progress paints a stable and consistent picture.
“Yes, it was strong from him, and he had another chance where he could have scored another one,” Pedersen told The Star. “He has made an extremely [good] development this season.
“I think he's a good picture for the season that the young boys couldn't swim, but they should play, and he's one of them who has grown the most. He starts to be tactically much, much better.
“In the beginning he had an action, then he rest, action, rest, action, rest. Now the internet is better, so now he has action, action, action, and he starts to put the faces together in his head.
“He's always online, he always has a job. Here you can see he has grown a lot, that tactically he is online much, much better. Also today, against a strong striker, you can see he can compete when earlier in the season he will lose more balls and he will concede more free-kicks.
“Now he's more dominant in this part, and that he scored a goal also is great.”
Although nothing is guaranteed for any member of Pedersen’s squad ahead of next season amid the impending takeover coming to fruition, Otegbayo has done enough to be worthy of a place in the Dane’s plans, highlighting the benefits of any young player earning a consistent run of opportunities.
Pedersen believes handing out more opportunities to younger members of the squad has to become a regular theme within the Owls’ business model moving forward.
“We have seen that with many of our players,” Pedersen added. “I know, and I've said that before, we are forced to play with young players this season.
“But, of course, it has to be a part of our identity to have young, developed talent, to be integrated into the first-team, and we have to find top talent to integrate.
“Of course it has to be a part of the business model that you can find, you can develop, you can make them effective in the first team, you can sell later, and I think we have a lot of good examples from this season.”