Barry Bannan injury blow could be a long-term blessing in disguise for Sheffield Wednesday..
It has been an excellent season for Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship so far, but injuries to key players are threatening to derail their play-off push.
After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Wednesday have made clear progress under manager Danny Rohl this campaign, and they currently sit 11th in the table, just three points from the play-off places.
However, the Owls’ promotion push has stalled slightly in recent weeks after a run of just two wins in their last nine games, and the January transfer window did not go as well as supporters had hoped.
Wednesday did bring in two new additions, with Stuart Armstrong joining from Vancouver Whitecaps and Ibrahim Cissoko making a loan move from Toulouse, while they also kept hold of on-loan Southampton midfielder Shea Charles, but the centre-back and striker that many felt were desperately needed did not arrive.
The Owls wasted much of the early stages of the winter window after a breakdown in communication between Rohl and owner Dejphon Chansiri, and while the pair have now resolved their differences, the damaging impact of their dispute has become clear.
Double injury blow highlights Sheffield Wednesday transfer failings.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl
Wednesday suffered heartbreak as they were beaten 2-1 by play-off rivals West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on Saturday, with Jayson Molumby scoring a 96th-minute winner for the Baggies.
However, if losing the game in the last minute was not devastating enough for the Owls, their misery was compounded after star defender Di’Shon Bernard was forced off in the first half with what Rohl described as a “big injury”, and the 24-year-old now looks set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
With Bernard unavailable, the previously out-of-favour Michael Ihiekwe and youngster Gabriel Otegbayo are Wednesday’s only fit centre-back options, and the former Manchester United man has joined an injury list that already includes another of the club’s key players.
Captain Barry Bannan has once again played a starring role for the Owls this season, scoring four goals and providing four assists in 33 appearances, but rumours circulated before the game at West Brom that the 35-year-old was facing an extended injury lay-off.
As expected, Bannan was absent from the squad at The Hawthorns, and Rohl confirmed the news that supporters had been fearing after the game, but the German admitted he was unsure exactly how long the midfielder would be sidelined for, stating that he could be out for anywhere between seven days and six weeks.
Of course, losing Bannan is a major blow for Wednesday’s play-off prospects, and it is difficult to see them reaching the top six without their talisman, but his injury could be a long-term blessing in disguise for the club.
