Danny Rohl’s Sheffield Wednesday squad are nearly all fully fit, but two players still have a way to go before they return to fitness.
Sheffield Wednesday have struggled for consistency this season, but it does feel as though the Owls are close to finding some momentum.
Recent performances have been strong. The win over Norwich City was a highlight, while the display against Sheffield United showed lots of spirit, before a promising yet wasteful outing against Cardiff City at the weekend saw Danny Rohl’s side drop points again.
The next handful of games could be key for Sheffield Wednesday this season, but Rohl is going to have to go into those games without both Akin Famewo and Olaf Kobacki after his latest update on the injured pair.
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Akin Famewo likely out until March with injury
Speaking to The Star ahead of Sheffield Wednesday’s trip to Hull on Tuesday night, Rohl discussed the injury status of both Famewo and Kobacki, and revealed when we can expect to see them both back in action.
“I think with Akin the earliest point will be March,” Rohl said. “And that’s a long, long way. We have to build him up and there’s a long way to go on that.”
It was better news for Kobacki, though, with Rohl adding: “Olaf we’re hoping it’ll be by the end of the year, that one was also a muscle injury. But at the moment we have 22 players, three goalkeepers available, and I think that is a good point at this time of the year.”
With the return of Nathaniel Chalobah last week, the Sheffield Wednesday squad is now about as close to being injury-free as one could hope for.
Max Lowe now key to Sheffield Wednesday defence
Luckily for Rohl, Famewo’s absence has coincided with the rise of Max Lowe as a crucial cog in Sheffield Wednesday’s defensive line.
The left-back has adapted to play at centre-half and, over the last three games, has shown he is more than capable of slotting into that role for the long-term.
| Statistic (2024/25 season) | Max Lowe | Akin Famewo |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 14 | 10 |
| Minutes played | 985 | 750 |
| Tackles won per 90 | 1.47 | 1.20 |
| Interceptions per 90 | 1.65 | 2.77 |
| Blocks per 90 | 1.57 | 0.85 |
While Famewo now out until March, it remains to be seen whether Rohl will look to bring in a new defender in the January transfer window, or if he will lean on Lowe, and the young Gabriel Otegbayo, to cover.
To be fair, defensively, the Owls look absolutely fine. It is in attack that Sheffield Wednesday need to look for reinforcements as a priority, but the return of Kobacki could be a real boost in the New Year.