Another matchday brings fresh injury concerns for Sheffield Wednesday, but there’s a glimmer of hope as captain Barry Bannan could make his return against Stoke City this afternoon.
Bannan has missed the last two outings due to an ankle issue but is nearing a comeback. Danny Röhl confirmed that a final decision on the skipper’s involvement would likely be made just hours before kick-off at the bet365 Stadium. Meanwhile, injuries continue to plague the squad, with Michael Ihiekwe and Anthony Musaba also emerging as doubts for today’s clash.
In Thursday’s pre-match press conference, Röhl revealed that Ihiekwe suffered a knock in training while Musaba has been nursing ankle issues throughout the week. However, he emphasized that these setbacks are short-term, and decisions would be taken based on their conditions closer to matchday.
“These are game-to-game injuries,” Röhl explained. “Barry is really close—he could be available, but we’ll make the call closer to the match. Icky got a knock, and Musa has some ankle problems. It’s a waiting game for all of them.”
Bannan is known for pushing himself back into contention quickly, and his return would offer a massive lift as the Owls aim to finish a tough season on a strong note.
“He’s working very hard, and you can see how much he wants to play,” said Röhl. “He’s looked good in training. We’ve got four games left and he wants to be ready—that’s a great sign.”
With little on the line in the closing fixtures, Röhl is also looking to give opportunities to younger and fringe players who’ve earned their chances throughout the season. Promising forward Charlie McNeill made his home debut against Oxford United and could see more action in the coming weeks.
“You’ll see more minutes for guys like Gab Otegbayo, Charlie, Olaf Kobacki, and Pierce Charles,” Röhl added. “Charlie was waiting for that home debut and it was great for him. Hopefully we can give him and others more chances before the season ends.”