Sheffield Wednesday set for major injury boost with last caveat explained ahead of Blackburn Rovers
Sheffield Wednesday are hopeful of a welcome boost heading into their trip to Blackburn Rovers this weekend.
Goalkeeper Pierce Charles hasn’t featured for the Owls since sustaining a shoulder injury that required surgery only a few matches into the new season, with a lack of an alternative senior stopper at the club allowing them to add Cardiff City back-up Ethan Horvath to their squad on a loan deal until January.
Prodigious talent Charles played as a Sheffield Wednesday XI won out on penalties against Stocksbridge Park Steels in the Sheffield & Hallamshire Cup on Tuesday evening, his first outing since a defeat to Stoke City in mid-August. Speaking to The Star, Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen spoke positively about how the Northern Ireland number one had come through the test and asked when he could be expected back in full senior action, suggested it could come as soon as this weekend.
“Maybe 48 hours, let’s see,” he said with a smile. “He has had a rest today and we will evaluate all this tomorrow. I am really pleased for what he did (in the Stocksbridge game). He has trained really, really well and it can be tough for young players who just go forward and forward. When you get those injuries you start to reflect and then you start to be thankful for when you can play again.
“Daryl (Flahavan) our goalkeeping coach has done fantastically well with Pierce and we could all see that yesterday. I am looking forward to Pierce being back in the team. He has so much to give as a personality, but also as a goalkeeper.”
Asked on what exactly needs to happen for Charles to be selected for Blackburn - whether there would need to build match sharpness or if it was simply a case of seeing how he shaped up from the Stocksbridge test, Pedersen said: “We have to look at the game and then we will see in the training session.
“He is looking good. Ethan has done a great job. He came as a third goalkeeper from a League One club and how he has done for us is more than anybody could have expected. But if Pierce is fit again he has to play. I have spoken with Ethan about this and he has an understanding for this. We will make a decision tomorrow and then we will see on Saturday.”