Henrik Pedersen’s men take on Orient at 3pm on Saturday afternoon at Brisbane Road, and will be hoping to build on their 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers that saw them progress in the Carabao Cup.

There will be at least one change to the squad that was named for that game, with Charlie McNeill having joined Crewe Alexandra on loan, but there could also be alterations elsewhere given that Pedersen has options to choose from.

On top of confirming that Reece James was due to train with the club again next week, the Owls boss also spoke about the likes of Liam Cooper, Ricardo Santos, Billy Mitchell and Louie Barry.

Wednesday in good shape

“Everyone has trained today at different levels,” the Dane said. “So everything is going in the right direction for the whole squad in terms of fitness… It’s positive, and let’s see for tomorrow.

“Both Santos and Cooper are going in the right direction. Louie had a good week again now, and Billy has also started to train regularly - they’re two quality players, so for those two they’re also in the right direction.”

Orient’s absences

Over on the other side of the coin, Richie Wellens is yet to do his pre-match press conference ahead of the Owls’ visit, but Rarmani Edmonds-Green and Jordan Graham remain sidelined by injuries.

It’s unknown at this point whether they have any fresh concerns before Saturday’s clash, however - like Wednesday - they are also a team in transition having seen a lot of change at the club over the summer. Dom Ballard’s departure, of course, was the most notable one.

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Hamshaw, who played his part in the 2005 promotion out of League One, spent last season as manager of Rotherham United before departing in March, and will now take up a spot on Wednesday’s bench alongside Henrik Pedersen.

Sporting Director, Simon Wilson, said about Hamshaw’s appointment, “Matt arrives with the type of experience we were looking to add - he has been a serial winner in League One. In addition to the strong knowledge he possesses of League One and the Championship, he also has a very current understanding of the teams and challenges we will face this season.

“He brings something different to what we have within the coaching group, including a strong focus on set pieces, which we know is essential in today’s game.”

Wilson also went on to thank the man that ‘Hammy’ is replacing, paying tribute to Craig Mudd after he returned to Manchester City.

He said, “I’d also like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Craig Mudd, whose departure for Manchester City created this opportunity. Craig made a significant contribution during an especially challenging period for the club. He was a popular member of staff and a talented coach, who will be missed, and we wish him every success with his next step.”

Wednesday remain on the lookout for new appointments in the academy structure, with an U18s manager and a Head of Academy Goalkeeping on their list of requirements.

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McNeill was an unused substitute last weekend as the Owls saw off Bolton Wanderers, and it always felt like there was a possibility that he could be on the move this summer.

Now it’s been confirmed that the 22-year-old has completed a switch elsewhere as he heads to League Two in search of regular game time.

Explaining the decision, Wednesday’s Sporting Director, Simon Wilson, said, “This is a loan that works well for all parties. Charlie is ready for more playing time and it will enable us to monitor him in this environment - and Crewe are acquiring a player with an elite goalscoring record in youth football, who is hungry for this opportunity.

“They have an excellent record of partnering with clubs on loan players and have been really consistent in recent years, performing at the top end of the league. It is a season-long loan, but we will all review the situation in January and take it from there.”

Meanwhile, it was also confirmed today that Devlan Moses has signed a one-year deal with a one-year option to remain with the Owls.

Speaking about his new deal at Hillsborough, Moses said, “The manager speaks a lot about the human first, and I’ve definitely grown as a person.

“I’ve grown up massively with myself, on and off the pitch… It’s a good group. Everyone’s gelling and everyone’s buying into the idea of this season.

“If an opportunity comes my way, I just try and take it and show my qualities to the staff, the manager and the fans as well.”

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Tyler Onyango recently became the 13^th summer signing for the Owls as Henrik Pedersen continues to put together a team capable of making some sort of challenge in the third tier of English football this season, but we’re still expecting a handful of other new arrivals.

Wednesday are working predominantly in the free agent and loan market now due to the financial framework agreed with the English Football League, but as previously reported they are able to find creative ways to do their business by utilising their ability to offer substantial wages and/or using clauses such as sell-ons and buy-backs.

That being said, finding options where there is no transfer or loan fee involved isn’t easy, and it’s known that the Owls are still looking for a number nine, a right winger and a left back at the very least. With their league campaign beginning this weekend, the sooner they do their business the better.

Here are The Wednesday Word, we thought we’d give a rundown of the current state of play as we understand it – regarding ins, outs and other player dealings over at Hillsborough…

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Jamal Lowe’s fine finish was the difference at Hillsborough as the Owls progressed into the second round of this year’s competition, and they will find out tomorrow night who awaits them in the next stage.

It was by no means a vintage performance by either side at S6, but Wednesday will have been delighted to knock out Championship opposition ahead of their return to League One action, and the clean sheet will have been welcomed as well.

Here’s some of what the two men in charge had to say after the game:

Henrik Pedersen

“We are here for winning football games and we have to get used to winning… Today we find a way to win, next Saturday we have to find another way to win. But of course it means a lot, it means everything in this situation where we are. We have to learn to win and find a way to win.

“How the boys keep concentrating, keep going, keep going… We made substitutions a little bit earlier than we did last season and I think we did it well, also when the players came on.

"It was a great goal, but it was also a Jamal with intensity, a Jamal who kept running. And this is one of the things we have spoken about in the team, that we generally want to change a little bit earlier to increase the intensity."

Steven Schumacher

“I’m disappointed to lose the tie, especially in the manner that we did. I felt we were the better team, much the better team, up until the red card, so it’s had a massive impact on the game.

“We had three big chances in the first half where we should be out of sight, so that’s on us to be more clinical with the opportunities that we said to the players would be there if we play as well as we did…

“I'm more positive with how we've played, just disappointed to be out of the tie, but I suppose if you're looking on the bright side we don't have a mid-week fixture for whenever it was going to be, so we'll just concentrate on the league for now."

Meanwhile, on Xavier Simons’ crazy red card, the Bolton boss added, “From the angle I’ve seen it from this side, it looks like Xav has reacted and lashed out, which he knows you can’t do, it’s a poor decision, and it’s a decision that you wouldn’t expect from him.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen him do that since he’s been here, and I’m sure he’ll be disappointed with it.”

The Owls secured a spot in the second round of the Carabao Cup thanks to a lovely goal from Jamal Lowe in the second half of their clash at Hillsborough, with Wednesday landing a clean sheet as well as their victory.

Helped by the sending off of Xavier Simons in the second half, Pedersen’s men took control of the tie in S6, and never really looked in any danger as the game went on.

For the Dane, he was delighted to see a reaction after the defeat to Oldham Athletic in their final preseason friendly, and praised particular elements of their outing against the Trotters.

“I felt that our boys were back again,” he said afterwards. “I felt that we delivered a strong performance, and though the pressing was not always perfect we had a strong intensity. We worked the whole week so that when we won the ball we had a forward mindset to play forward and on the transition - and I think we were really strong in that…

“Last week we had a lot of passes that were sideways and backwards, today there was much better verticality and a bigger forward mindset to break lines, run behind and play forward. We were also strong in the defensive transition… It was a strong performance.”

Next up for the Owls is a trip to Leyton Orient as their 2026/27 League One campaign gets underway, and everyone of a Wednesday persuasion will be hoping for more of the same.

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The Owls take on Bolton Wanderers this afternoon in their Carabao Cup first round clash, and while Henrik Pedersen has almost a full squad to select from on the pitch, there is a notable absence off it.

It was reported by The Wednesday Word last month that first team coach, Craig Mudd, had attracted interest from his former club, Manchester City, with the Premier League giants being eager to tempt him back to Lancashire this summer.

Now, with Mudd having missed the trip to Hungary and Austria, TWW understands that he has now completed his return to City, leaving Pedersen one man short on his bench for the time being.

It’s not expected to be a seat vacant for too long, however, with this publication also of the belief that the club are closing in on Mudd’s replacement, with a successor likely to be named next week.

Mudd joined the Owls last year to form part of Pedersen’s technical team at Hillsborough, and having become a popular member of the setup will certainly be missed now that he’s moved on.

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Mitchell had been hoping to feature in the clash at Hillsborough, but has now been ruled out due to an ankle injury. Elsewhere, Cole McGhee has had to undergo surgery after dislocating his shoulder.

Here’s what Henrik Pedersen had to say:

Billy Mitchell (ankle)

“Billy has not trained this week, we hope he will be able to train on Sunday… He has worked so hard and now we have to get him into a rhythm and in the next weeks he will come back very strong and be a valuable player for us.”

Cole McGhee (shoulder)

“Cole will need surgery on his shoulder and will be out for four months. It is sad for him, he had a good pre-season but he will require a surgery now and we wish him a strong recovery.”

Ricardo Santos, Liam Cooper and Di’Shon Bernard

“Coops is fit and has trained the full week. Santos is fit and trained the full week as well… Dish is going really well, and next week we hope he can be a part of our possession games and we can integrate him.”

For Bolton…

Meanwhile, Wednesday’s opponents will be without both Ethan Erhahon and Eoin Toal due to injury, but they are the only two concerns that Steven Schumacher has to take into consideration.

He said of his side, “I think they’re in good spirits… You can see that there’s a good relationship between them all, obviously the ones who were with us last year have come into it full of confidence.

“The new players that have come have integrated really well into the squad, there’s been good intensity to how our pre-season work has been, we knew it wasn’t going to be a long pre-season, so we had to get at it from the very first minute.”

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Ricardo Santos was signed by the Owls earlier this summer after he was snapped from Swansea City, however injury has meant that he’s been unable to feature in any of his new club’s friendly fixtures so far.

Now though, the 31-year-old could be on the brink of making his debut in blue and white after Henrik Pedersen explained that he had trained the whole week along side Liam Cooper - who made his return last weekend.

Speaking to the media on Friday, the Dane said, “Coops is fit and has trained the full week. Santos is fit and trained the full week as well… Dish (Bernard) is going really well and next week we hope he can be a part of our possession games and we can integrate him.”

Bernard has been waiting a long time to get back out on the field, and while he may not be ready to take to the field just yet, Pedersen has revealed when they hope that he’ll be able to get back out there again - and praised his work while sidelined.

“Dish has grown as a leader, he has grown on a physical level, he has the right focus and I am really pleased to see what he is doing.

”We hope mid-September he can have his first games in the U21s, this is our goal but it is day by day.”

Wednesday face Santos’ former club, Bolton Wanderers, in the Carabao Cup tomorrow afternoon before their League One campaign begins against Leyton Orient a week later.

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The Wednesday Word reported earlier this week that talks were underway with the 23-year-old after he impressed on a short trial spell, and today it’s been confirmed that he’s now put pen to paper.

Onyango, an England youth international who is also eligible to play for Kenya, came through the Toffees’ youth ranks and actually made his senior debut against the Owls in the FA Cup back in 2021.

Primarily a central midfielder, the former Stockport County loanee can also play as a right back or a centre back, and his versatility will be something that made him attract to Henrik Pedersen ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Speaking to the club’s website, Onyango said, “I’m absolutely delighted. What a club and a great opportunity for me. I can’t wait to get going. It’s been a great first few days and I’m really happy.

“I know the project and the direction the club is going. I’ve seen what’s happened over the last few years and for me it feels like a new chapter. This is a club moving in the right direction and that’s something any player would be excited to be part of.

“As a young player, to join a club that has big ambition is massive. I know a couple of the lads already but the rest of the group have taken to me really well. It's a really welcoming club and somewhere I want to stay and be a part of.”

Meanwhile, the Owls’ Sporting Director, Simon Wilson - who has signed Onyango twice in the past - said, ““In our circumstances, we have to look for value and as a 23-year-old player with an elite background, a unique physical profile, and that can play multiple positions, Tyler represents a good opportunity for the football club.

“He is like Louie Barry in some senses - very good players at Premier League teams can suffer by going on multiple loans and never having that feeling they belong somewhere and can call it home.

“The long-term deal offers Tyler this possibility and now gives us both time to get our heads down and make it a success.”

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The friendly encounters recently were another showcase of the work that needs to be done on the recruitment front for Wednesday, and it’s known that they’re still chasing four or five new arrivals before the window slams shut.

So, with all that in mind, I thought I’d put together a bit of a piece on the current state of play over at Hillsborough - both on and off the pitch…

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The Wednesday Word reported back in June that the 20-year-old had agreed a terms on a fresh contract at Hillsborough, and now it has been confirmed that he’s signed on until 2028.

“I’m really pleased",” he told the club’s official website. “I’ve been here such a long time, coming through all the ranks, and then last year was a lot better for me personally, playing a lot of games in the first team.

“Playing at Championship level made me ten times a better player on and off the pitch as well, a better professional, and I grew up quicker than I expected. Hopefully, I can kick on this year and do some good things for the club.”

Meanwhile, Wednesday’s Sporting Director, Simon Wilson, added, “This new contract reflects our belief in Jarvis and gives him the platform to continue his development. He has demonstrated that he is capable of contributing to our first team, but now the challenge is to earn those opportunities more consistently. We’re looking forward to seeing how he continues to progress within our environment.”

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The 27-year-old hasn’t been heard from publicly for quite a while having fallen out of favour at Hillsborough under Henrik Pedersen and spent preseason training with the U21s and U18s rather than the senior side.

It was announced this weekend that Ugbo had now completed a temporary move away from the Owls in search of regular gametime and a return to form elsewhere, joining Cypriot top-flight outfit, Apollon, ahead of their latest UEFA Conference League clash in a few days’ time.

What Sheffield Wednesday said

On Sunday morning, the club said in a statement, “Sheffield Wednesday Football Club can confirm the departure of Iké Ugbo. The striker has joined Cypriot top-flight side Apollon Limassol on a season-long loan.

“Ugbo joined the Owls, initially on loan, in January 2024. The move became permanent the following summer. The 27-year-old has made 81 appearances for Wednesday across all competitions, scoring nine goals.”

Meanwhile, shortly after his new employers welcomed him on board,

“A new chapter begins,” he said in a social media post.“I’m here for a reason… To give everything, to fight for the badge. To help this team reach its target.

“Together, we’ll chase every victory. This is my new home - let’s make history together.”

Apollon themselves said, “We welcome Ike Ugbo to the Apollon family and wish him every success in the blue and white jersey.”

Wednesday are currently in the process of trying to add to their ranks before the closure of the transfer window in a few weeks’ time, and Ugbo’s departure will no doubt help on the wages front as they source further recruits for their frontline.

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Ugbo has endured a tough time at Hillsborough since joining the Owls on a permanent basis, with the forward having struggled to replicate his loan form from the 2023/24 season.

A departure for the 27-year-old was always expected this summer if a deal could be struck, and now it has been confirmed that he’s on his way the Cypriot First Division, where he’ll also get the chance to play in the UEFA Conference League.

Wednesday’s Sporting Director, Simon Wilson, said of the move, “After a difficult period, Iké asked the club to facilitate a fresh start this summer, with the objective getting back to his best for the benefit of himself and the club.

“We have worked collaboratively together throughout the off-season to identify the right opportunity and believe we have secured something we are all happy with. We all go into this next chapter with positivity and optimism, and wish Iké well.”

Ugbo played 24 times for the Owls last season, with his only goal coming in the Carabao Cup almost exactly a year ago.

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The 32-year-old played a crucial role in the Owls’ last promotion out of League One, spending the 2022/23 season on loan with the club under Darren Moore before signing on a permanent basis a year later.

Now, having left Rotherham United a few weeks back, James is on the lookout for a new club once again, and has spent this week training at Middlewood Road with Henrik Pedersen and his troops.

While it’s being billed as a training exercise that’s mutually beneficial - just like with Cameron Dawson - given the Owls’ lack of options at left back, it’d be no surprise to see him up for consideration if he manages to impress.

There are first outings for Connal Trueman and Mason Burstow as Pedersen’s men take on Accrington, while James starts at left back on the opposite side to the returning Yan Valery.

Elsewhere, Liam Cooper is back in the XI after his injury alongside Ernie Weaver, while Jarvis Thornton and Denny Oliver start in midfield. Harry Gray, Will Grainger and Charlie McNeill make up the rest of the XI.

Interestingly, highly-rated Owls youngster, Tom Streets, makes the bench as back up to Trueman, while there’s also a spot for Joel Martin after he signed on at Wednesday after impressing on trial.

This game gets underway at 12:30pm, followed by a different SWFC XI taking on Oldham Athletic at 4pm.

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