The Steel City derby is one of the biggest events on the footballing calendar, especially for those associated with both clubs, so it’s not surprising one Sheffield Wednesday loanee visited Bramall Lane for the game.
Danny Rohl had difficult decisions to make over the summer regarding the Sheffield Wednesday first-team squad, with a number of players moving on, be it temporarily or permanently.
The likes of Lee Gregory, George Byers, and Cameron Dawson were among the departures for Sheffield Wednesday in pre-season, all leaving on free transfers.
Meanwhile, Rohl will be keeping a close eye on Bailey Cadamarteri, who is out on loan and thriving at Lincoln City this year.
But, seeing what another Owls loanee was up to at the weekend would have been a lot simpler, as the player made the trip across Yorkshire to watch the Steel City derby, and he sat among the away supporters at Bramall Lane.
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Mallik Wilks shows support for Sheffield Wednesday in derby clash
Mallik Wilks joined Rotherham United in the summer on a season-long loan, but he’s clearly keeping Wednesday close to his heart, as he was spotted in the stands on Sunday afternoon.
An image of the winger was shared on X by one Wednesday fan, with the caption: “Malik Wilks in the away end.”
The 25-year-old was seen smiling as he watched the game, and was sporting a very appropriate bright blue coat to show his support for his parent club.
Among the replies to the post, one fan suggested, “Whole area sat around him must have been tickets from players, not a sniff of noise from any of them.”
While some fans were surprised to see Wilks at the game, it’s worth remembering he is close friends with Josh Windass.
Meanwhile, former Owls player, George Byers was also spotted in the crowd, as was the wife of Barry Bannan. The decision to sit with the fans was seemingly something those associated with Sheffield Wednesday chose to do for such an important game within the community.
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Rotherham move has worked well for Mallik Wilks
Wilks has made the most of his loan move to Rotherham, and already has four goals in 16 games for the League One outfit.
The pacy winger has offered plenty down the right-hand side for the Millers, and his stunning goal against Peterborough last month is a clear sign of what Wilks is capable of at his best.
| Statistic | Mallik Wilks 2024/25 (all competitions) |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 15 |
| Minutes played | 1,183 |
| Goals | 4 |
| Shots on target per 90 | 1.15 |
| Shots on target % | 34.9 |
| Crosses per 90 | 2.75 |
While Danny Rohl described the decision to let Wilks go as a ‘difficult’ one, it is almost certain that the player has no future at Hillsborough.
Due to the system Wednesday play, an out-and-out winger like Wilks simply doesn’t quite fit alongside the wing-backs, and the Owls are well-stocked in the wider areas anyway.
His contract with Sheffield Wednesday expires in the summer, so in truth, Wilks is largely looking to show other clubs what he can do in order to secure a free transfer move at the end of the season.
However, depending on how long Olaf Kobacki is out injured for, if Wilks keeps performing well for Rotherham, he could earn an unexpected return to Hillsborough.