Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen has disclosed that the club has contacted the Professional Footballers’ Association in an attempt to get some respite from their present transfer limitations.

Hillsborough’s senior players have had their fitness put to the test during the Christmas schedule, with Wednesday, like other Championship sides, playing four games in ten days, culminating in Sunday’s trip to QPR.

The EFL denied the Wednesday manager’s plea to bring in fresh players on loan during the present January transfer window, despite 13 senior players missing the Boxing Day match with Hull City due to injuries and international obligations.

While Sean Fusire, one of Wednesday’s AFCON representatives with Zimbabwe, returned to the side in Thursday’s defeat to Preston North End, he did so at a cost, replacing an injured Liam Cooper five minutes before halftime.

Pedersen admitted that the groin injury is “not good” after the game, and he appears to have taken more measures to try to get some bodies through the door in the winter window.

Henrik Pedersen contacted PFA about the ongoing Sheffield Wednesday situation.

According to Alex Miller of the Sheffield Star, Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen has contacted the PFA about player welfare issues. The injury to Cooper, who only joined the club in November after the Owls were given two free transfer arrivals, is expected to exacerbate the concerns.

Pedersen stated this following Wednesday’s 3-0 defeat at Preston on New Year’s Day, which ended the team’s unusual unbeaten streak after two draws to end 2025.

Miller argues that the Owls believe that “they will at some stage be allowed to bring in players on a freebie loan basis, similar to [Harry] Amass’ deal.”

Amass was one of two new entrants at Hillsborough this summer, following a terribly horrible few months in the dying days of former owner Dejphon Chansiri. The roster had been shredded owing to contract violations, and the club was already battling an uphill battle to continue in the division before being deducted 12 points for entering administration.

James Bord has been picked as the preferred bidder to take over the club in due course, provided he passes the EFL’s Owners and Directors’ test, however while the club is still in administration, it is unclear whether it will be permitted to make any transfers in January.

Regardless, Sheffield Wednesday remains subject to a fee restriction imposed in June as a result of Chansiri’s late payments.

Although there is hope in the Hillsborough camp that this may be lifted before the summer window if a takeover is completed.

Sheffield Wednesday will still have obstacles to overcome if the PFA grants them transfer relief.

There is some hope that the PFA will address the player welfare issues made by Pedersen and Sheffield Wednesday, but even if the Owls are able to make loan signings, there will be some challenges to overcome.

According to Alex Miller, these freebie loan deals “depend on the generosity of parent clubs,” and while Premier League sides will see Manchester United’s Amass’ progression during his loan spell at Wednesday as a good thing, there’s no doubt that anyone else in the division interested in their players would be able to offer a more lucrative financial package.

Even Amass’ future isn’t certain, with Miller stating that other Championship clubs are interested in paying a fee to take him on loan from the Premier League giants for the rest of the season.

Furthermore, it is expected that these transfers would not be completed until the end of the month, as was the case with Amass during the summer window, meaning that Wednesday’s already exhausted team will have to undergo an equally hectic January schedule before they even get a chance at a break.

There will be hope if the PFA shows sympathy and persuades the EFL to relax their transfer policy in the coming days, but even then, there will be some more fights to fight to bring in a few fresh faces during the month.