Why Rotherham clash could be career-defining for one Sheffield Wednesday man

A cursory glance at the cuttings of today’s 2019 edition of The Star will tell you as much, the language used to describe Sheffield Wednesday’s stoic 0-0 draw with Leeds United a picture of optimism as the Owls locked away their third clean sheet in four matches.

Some 14 league matches into the season and Wednesday were mean and hard to beat, unbeaten at home under Garry Monk with all eyes looking up the table.

The report from the day centred on an injury to Julian Börner and how well Sam Hutchinson filled in at the back. Keiren Westwood made a number of saves on his way to a man of the match gong. Indeed, a year is a long, long time in football.

A gushing few paragraphs on Börner’s importance to the side described the German as ‘a focal point for the rest of his side to build upon, ‘a Championship benchmark to be measured against’ and ‘a totem of defensive calm.’

A year later, he’s out of the side and hours away from what could be a career-defining outing at Rotherham’s New York Stadium.

Suspension to Joost van Aken, ironically exiled to Börner’s homeland last season as Steve Bruce completed the German’s free transfer, has opened up a vacancy on the left of Wednesday’s back three – his favoured position.

With Dominic Iorfa and Tom Lees seemingly ready for a return from injury, with Aden Flint having made an impressive start to his Owls career and with Chey Dunkley approaching fitness, Börner has no time to waste in climbing the pecking order should he be handed a first league start of the season.

Asked of the German’s prospects at Wednesday this season, Owls boss Garry Monk told The Star last week that there had been no problem or fall out, rather that selection was purely down to performance levels and reliability.

“You’ve got to show the right attitude and the right commitment, for yourself number one, but also for the team,” Monk said.

“Julian has done that and is doing that, but it’s a situation where when that opportunity comes, you have to perform.

“We haven’t got the luxury of not performing,” he said. “We have to deliver performances as much as we can and that’s the job of every player.

“Julian has been great, he’s a professional and if his chance comes, it’s up to him to take it.”

Though he is yet to speak to the media this season, Börner has made no secret of his desire to make things work at Wednesday long-term. Now 29, he has a contract that runs until the end of next season.

“I’m used to playing every week,” he told supporters when he was unveiled as an Owls player last July.

“In Germany with the cup games we could play 50 games and I want to play every one. I want to be a regular here.”

A year is a long, long time in football. If selected as van Aken’s replacement, this could be a very big week for Julian Börner’s future at Sheffield Wednesday.

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