Sheffield Wednesday’s injury problems are worsening as the busy Christmas schedule nears.
Manager Henrik Pedersen revealed that Yan Valery was battling a foot issue before Saturday’s 3–2 home defeat to Preston North End at Hillsborough.
Wednesday had taken the lead twice in the first half but were denied by a late strike from substitute Mads Frøkjær-Jensen, who found the bottom corner from the edge of the ‘D’ shortly after Charlie McNeill missed a chance to complete a hat-trick from the penalty spot.
Although the Owls produced some of their best attacking football of the season for long spells, they tired late on and slipped to a fourth straight loss — their eighth home defeat in the Championship this term.
The squad went into the match short on bodies, especially in defence, with Max Lowe and Dominic Iorfa unavailable. Iorfa sat out due to suspension, while Lowe was sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Pedersen, who praised his players’ effort after the game, disclosed that Valery played the full 90 minutes only after taking painkillers to get through the match.
When asked about additional injuries, Pedersen said he wasn’t sure of any new problems but confirmed Valery had been struggling with his foot and needed medication to finish the game.
With Iorfa and Lowe absent, plus Di’Shon Bernard and Ernie Weaver still out, and Liam Cooper deemed too risky to start again so soon, Pedersen had no choice but to move Valery from midfield into the right-centre role in a back three — a position he hadn’t occupied regularly for over two months.
Pedersen added that Valery accepted the change willingly, saying he’d been playing as a No.6 for a long time but would do his best at right centre-back when called upon.
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