While Sheffield Wednesday fans were busy celebrating the win over Hull City on Tuesday night, it may have gone unnoticed that one player was not in the matchday squad.
Sheffield Wednesday recorded an important 2-0 win against their Yorkshire rivals to climb the table, and wash away the sour taste of two points dropped against Cardiff at the weekend.
Danny Rohl got his tactics spot on at the MKM Stadium, and used his substitutes well, with Michael Smith coming off the bench to grab the all-important second goal.
However, among the substitutes, fans were surprised to see Ben Hamer in place of Pierce Charles. So, where was the Owls youngster?
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Pierce Charles has a small injury
Wednesday fans can breathe a sigh of relief, as it seems Charles’ injury issue is nothing too serious, with Rohl confirming the exact details of his condition when speaking to The Star after the Hull game.
“He picked up a small injury yesterday in training, but he should be OK,” Rohl said. “It is not a big one. It is just with the finger, he went to save some balls and got a little bit of a small thing but it is OK.”
It is not known at this stage whether Charles will be back on the bench for the clash with Derby County on Sunday afternoon, or whether Ben Hamer will continue to deputise.
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James Beadle proved he is still Sheffield Wednesday’s number one
Thankfully, the absence of Charles will not have much of an impact in the immediate future for Sheffield Wednesday anyway, as James Beadle stepped up and showed just how important he is between the sticks.
Owls legend Lee Bullen hailed Beadle for his ‘world class’ display against Hull, while Sheffield Wednesday fans were left in ‘awe’ as Beadle made a number of top saves to protect his team’s lead on Tuesday night.
| Statistics | James Beadle vs Hull City |
|---|---|
| Saves | 3 |
| High claims | 1 |
| Saves inside box | 2 |
| Goals prevented | 0.62 |
| Pass success | 67% |
Prior to the win over Hull, serious questions had been asked about Beadle’s competency, with fans criticising his shot-stopping abilities.
That performance against Hull certainly put the record straight, at least for now, and was a real statement from a young goalkeeper hungry to prove he is the real deal.