The summer signing has missed the last three matches after suffering an ankle injury in the Carabao Cup defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. He underwent a late fitness test ahead of the trip to Peterborough United, but the Owls opted not to risk him at the Weston Homes Stadium - a decision vindicated as they secured a third straight away win courtesy of Yan Valery’s late header. Wednesday are back at Hillsborough next Saturday when they host Wigan Athletic.
Manager Henrik Pedersen said: “We need to have a little patience but I hope he will be back soon.”
Wednesday are down to the bare bones at centre‑back, with Sil Swinkels and Di‑Shon Bernard still in the treatment room. Liam Cooper, outstanding in the first half at Peterborough, was withdrawn at the interval as a precaution. Pedersen is optimistic the experienced defender has not suffered a setback. “He was very tired,” he said. “Let’s see tomorrow.”
Pedersen also confirmed Valery was taken off late on after suffering cramp. The attacking right‑back received a standing ovation from the 3,900‑plus travelling fans.
“He was really tired,” Pedersen said. “He ran a lot and played another strong game. It was right to take him out.”
Despite collecting 12 points from their opening five matches, Pedersen insists there is far more to come from his new‑look squad.
“We have to recover now and we then one or two really tough sessions where we get intensity into the brain and the body,” he said. “We have to train all the basic things again. We don’t have to build over now. You can see when we don’t train enough, we lose the basic things. We have to train the basic things again with intensity so we get more clarity and the boys have the same thoughts in the same moments. The defensive has got to be stronger and so has the intensity on the ball. The dynamic and opposite runs on the defensive line have to be stronger.
“We have a lot to do but I’m really pleased with this week and how we have played at the beginning of the season.”
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