The situation at Sheffield Wednesday is perilous right now but Neil Thompson saw something in Michael Ihiekwe that Xisco Munoz couldn’t see in three months at the club.
The Owls central defender had been left sidelined by the Spanish boss during his time at the club. He wasn’t even in the 20-man squad for the four games before the 0-0 draw with Huddersfield.
After starting the first two games of the season, Ihiekwe was forced into a watching brief. He was on the bench for the next four and he must have felt like a spare part under Munoz.
Thompson knew what Ihiekwe was capable of in Wednesday battle
The 30-year-old defender is a man who gives absolutely everything on the pitch every time he’s called upon. He was one of the main men in the Wednesday team last season and it was harsh what Munoz did.
Ihiekwe is dependable and he proved his worth in the goalless draw against Huddersfield; helping the team to a second clean sheet of the season against Darren Moore’s team.
Despite not playing for almost two months, Ihiekwe didn’t let anyone down at the weekend. Who Scored show that he won four headers and made five clearances during the clash.
Thompson has best Hillsborough interests at heart
The performance against Huddersfield was vastly improved. Okay, it didn’t result in a badly-needed victory but the Owls were applauded off and they at least showed some fight.
Ihiekwe is a leader in the Wednesday dressing room and furthermore, it would have hurt him to be out of the fold. No professional wants to be out of the team, never mind one who was instrumental in last season’s promotion.
Thompson made a statement with his team selection at the weekend. He played just one summer signing and instead entrusted the team that were so brilliant at times during 2022/23.
He saw in Ihiekwe what Munoz failed to do in the time he spent at Hillsborough. Had the Wednesday central defender featured more this season, perhaps they wouldn’t have conceded quite as many goals as they currently have.