Sheffield Wednesday will battle a familiar face on Tuesday night as Steve Bruce takes charge of Blackpool in the EFL Cup.
Danny Rohl came so, so close to winning all three points on Saturday afternoon.
Sheffield Wednesday hosted Queens Park Rangers at Hillsborough and appeared set for a 0-0 draw in injury time.
Barry Bannan conjured up a moment of magic though, scoring a goal of the season contender to put Wednesday 1-0 up.
That should have been the end of the game but QPR scored the scruffiest of all scruffy goals, eventually bundling the ball home from a goalmouth scramble.
Rohl was left to rue Wednesday’s set-piece defending as the Owls dropped two points in the dying seconds of Saturday’s clash.
Steve Bruce on signing former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder
Next up for Wednesday is a trip to Bloomfield Road as Wednesday prepare to face Blackpool in the EFL Cup.
The Owls have already dumped Hull City and Grimsby Town out of the competition and Blackpool are standing in the way of another victory.
Wednesday will come up against a familiar face in the process after Blackpool appointed Steve Bruce as their new manager during the international break.
Bruce had spent nearly two years out of management but is now back in the game with the Tangerines.
Bruce spent a brief spell in charge of Wednesday in 2019, winning seven of his 18 games in charge before leaving for boyhood club Newcastle United.
The 63-year-old is now busy preparing to face Wednesday but is also weighing up whether to sign one of his former Owls players.
Midfielder Josh Onomah is on trial at Blackpool and looking to win a contract after more than a year out of the game.
Bruce – who worked with Onomah at Aston Villa and Wednesday – has now told the Blackpool Gazette that he is weighing up a deal for the midfielder.
Bruce feels that Blackpool could have a top-level on their hands if Onomah gets himself fit and ready to play.
It sounds like a deal won’t be done in time for Onomah to face Wednesday but Bruce is keen to get Onomah back to his best.
“I’ve signed him before, so I know all about him,” said Bruce.
“He hasn’t played for a while, so I’ve simply just said to him ‘Look Josh, get yourself in some physical shape.’ If he does, then we have a player on our hands, because the kid can play. I’ve given him that opportunity, so we’ll assess him to see where he is. We’re confident he’ll get there.
“He’s missed the best part of 12 months, it’s like someone having a serious injury. The fitness levels can go so quickly; it doesn’t matter what you do in the gym. To be fair to Josh he’s tried his best, he’s doing everything he can.
“I had the conversation about him this week. If he can get himself right physically then we’ve got someone who’s played at the top level. I’m really surprised he’s been without a club for so long. He played for me and did well, so much so I nearly took him on Deadline Day when I was at West Brom.
“We’ll give him every opportunity in the next two to three weeks, but then we’ll have to be as honest as we can. If he can get up to speed then we’ll be looking to sign him – let’s hope he can get there. The decision has got to be on what he produces now. In football, 18 months is a long time, but I know what he’s capable of if he’s right,” he added.
Where has Onomah been since leaving Wednesday?
Onomah spent the 2018-19 season on loan at at Hillsborough but managed just 15 Championship appearances for the Owls.
Once touted as a future star for Tottenham Hotspur, Onomah didn’t exactly shine at Championship level and was then sold to Fulham.
After 76 appearances for Fulham, Onomah penned a deal with Preston North End in January 2023.
Onomah struggled to hit real match sharpness but showed glimpses of his quality before leaving the club on a free transfer.
A move to Stoke City looked imminent but Onomah has now been without a club for more than a year and missed the whole of last season.
Wednesday considered signing Ononah again before Bruce’s exit but haven’t exactly missed out.
Onomah and Bruce may well reunite once again, but it all depends on his fitness levels with Blackpool.