Sheffield Wednesday dug deep to claim an important victory over Derby County at the weekend, but one player gave more than most in his efforts.
It was a good week for Sheffield Wednesday, as Danny Rohl’s side picked up seven points from a possible nine and finally put together consecutive league wins for the first time this season.
Rohl praised the ‘outstanding’ efforts of his team in completing the late comeback against Derby on Sunday, with the Owls fighting right to the final whistle to claim the win.
While Jamal Lowe’s introduction to the game proved to be successful, another Wednesday substitute put in a top shift and played through the pain barrier.
- READ MORE: Five things Danny Rohl can learn from Sheffield Wednesday win vs Derby, one issue nearly cost them
Callum Paterson dislocated his finger and kept playing
Callum Paterson entered the field of play with just over ten minutes of normal time to go, and ultimately went on to deliver the key cross into the box for Lowe to convert in the 94th minute.
But, speaking to The Star after the game, Rohl described how the 30-year-old continued to play even though he suffered a dislocated finger just minutes after being brought on.
When asked about the incident, Rohl winced and said: “Urgh. Horrible! I saw it. It came straight out and he just said ‘No, come on!’ And [the medical team] pushed it back in. It was not a nice one to watch, but this is Pato.”
Indeed, the idea of sucking it up and getting on with it despite his finger hanging out of place just sums up the warrior-like spirit of Paterson, and it’s a good job he did, as he would go on to change the game for Wednesday in the dying moments.
Writing on the wall for Paterson’s future, but it’ll be a shame to see him go
Unfortunately, game time is severely limited for Paterson right now, and it would appear the experienced Scotsman will be on his way out of Hillsborough by the end of the season, if not in January.
If Wednesday were to sign Louie Barry in the New Year, Paterson would surely be sold. While the idea of him moving on makes sense, it is still sure to be a bittersweet departure for many Owls fans.
| Statistic | Callum Paterson 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 10 |
| Minutes played | 404 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Pass success % | 47.8 |
Paterson has become something of a cult hero at Sheffield Wednesday for his passionate, workmanlike displays over the years, and his impact at Derby on Sunday proves he still has a little left to give for now.
But, a player with that kind of commitment and work-rate deserves to be playing week in, week out; it’s just a shame that cannot happen with Wednesday.