Sheffield Wednesday urgently needs clearance to bring in new players because they risk lose two important players next month.
After Saturday’s loss to Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen acknowledged that the most recent stop had arrived at the perfect moment, given that the team had only played 15 different outfield players between the October and November international holidays.
A third game in eight days was too much for the Owls’ ragged team after back-to-back draws with Norwich City (1-1) and West Bromwich Albion (0-0). Even though they gave it their all, there were numerous visible symptoms of exhaustion during their performance at St. Mary’s.
The Wednesday manager has only used 20 outfield players so far this season, and he has only used 15 different players to get the team through the six games between the current international break and the last one.
The only player among those 15 who did not receive a start was young Bruno Fernandes, who made his Championship debut as a late substitution against West Brom. In order to lead the Owls through six games in just 22 days, Pedersen has had to rely on the same players.
The impending Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the last thing Wednesday could have done with a team that is already exhausted. Yan Valery and Sean Fusire may be away from Hillsborough for up to a month as both Tunisia and Zimbabwe have qualified for the competition, which begins on December 21.
Fusire has rightfully received his most recent Zimbabwe call-up after a run of strong performances for the Owls at right wing-back, while Valery has been named in the most recent Tunisia squad for their hat-trick of forthcoming friendlies during this international window, virtually guaranteeing him a spot in their AFCON squad.
Valery and Fusire might go AFCON together.
It is highly probable that Fusire would join Valery in Morocco, the site of the most recent AFCON, if he makes an impression during the international break and keeps up his recent form at Hillsborough.
Valery and Fusire are thrilled about the chance to represent their countries in a major event, but it may leave Wednesday with less alternatives, which would place even more pressure on the team to earn the result they desire from their meeting with the EFL today (Monday).
Wednesday wants to know if the EFL will allow them to sign any free agents before the January transfer market opens. Liam Cooper, a former Leeds United defender, is on the Owls’ radar as they desperately need reinforcements.
Liam Palmer will most likely need to switch to right wing-back in order to free up a center-back berth if Valery and Fusire both join the AFCON. Palmer recently partnered with Max Lowe and Dominic Iorfa as center back.
The most senior candidate next in line to enter the defense is Gabriel Otegbayo, as Di’Shon Bernard is still out and Ernie Weaver is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to injury.
Since Pedersen already has very little leeway, the possibility that the EFL will prevent Wednesday from adding more players, along with the possibility that Valery and Fusire will be away on international duty, would force the Owls manager to delve even further into the team’s academy.
Wednesday has to hope and pray that they receive the approval they so sorely require.
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