A former Sheffield Wednesday player is now flourishing for a Championship rival, following a tough spell with the Owls.
Sheffield Wednesday signed a number of new players last summer, though many have since had mixed performances for the club.
Names like Djeidi Gassama, Anthony Musaba, Di’Shon Bernard, and lately Pol Valentin have all flourished. Though the likes of Jeff Hendrick have struggled, whilst Juan Delgado has barely played due to injury.
Another who fell into the latter category was John Buckley; he arrived along with Hendrick on deadline day last summer, joining on loan from Blackburn Rovers but returning to Ewood Park at the start of last month.
The 24-year-old made just 13 Championship appearances for Sheffield Wednesday and saw his loan cut short, after a shoulder injury put him on the sidelines.
John Buckley flourishing after ‘tough’ Wednesday loan
Upon his return to Blackburn Rovers, Buckley opened up on what he described as a ‘tough’ loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday.
He’s since featured in Blackburn’s last three games, starting the last two, with the last being Rovers’ 2-1 defeat vs Newcastle United in the FA Cup.
Buckley started in a midfield against names like Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, and Joe Willock, and thoroughly impressed.
Lancashire Telegraph gave him a 9/10 rating on the night, with journalist Elliot Jackson adding:
“Absolutely fantastic all evening. On the ball, he dictated play and was imperative to Rovers getting out from defence. Off the ball, he was equally superb.”
Sheffield Wednesday the wrong club at the wrong time for Buckley
Even during his uneventful spell at Hillsborough, Buckley showed glimpses of a player with quality at Championship level.
But under Xisco Munoz at first, it just wouldn’t click for Buckley.
The shape under Munoz and arguably under Danny Rohl too didn’t suit the Englishman; he’s best deployed as the chief midfielder, sitting in the middle and pulling the strings, though the Owls obviously have Barry Bannan for that role.
So Sheffield Wednesday just seemed like the wrong club at the wrong time for Buckley.
But since his return to Lancashire, he’s reminded everyone of his class, and Blackburn may be wondering why they even let him go out on loan in the first place.
He could now play a starring role in the run-in Blackburn who sit in 16th place of the Championship table and just seven points ahead of Sheffield Wednesday in 23rd, who remain three points adrift.
Up next for the Owls is a trip to Rotherham United this weekend.