Sheffield Wednesday may have been handed a huge injury boost ahead of their final day showdown against Sunderland.
Sheffield Wednesday travel to Wearside on Saturday to face Sunderland in their final Championship game of the season.
And it’ll bring to an end what’s been a very eventful 2023/24 season, though it may prove to be a very memorable one if the Owls beat the drop.
Danny Rohl‘s side are in 20th place of the table and three points above Birmingham City in 22nd, with Plymouth Argyle two points behind Wednesday and in 21st.
What do Sheffield Wednesday need to do at Sunderland to beat the drop
Sheffield Wednesday’s fate is in their own hands now.
They can stay in the Championship with just a point in the game against the Black Cats, who currently sit in 15th place of the table and have won just two of their last 14 now.
Birmingham City can still stay up.
They host Norwich City on the final day whilst Plymouth Argyle host Hull City.
Sheffield Wednesday handed Ian Poveda boost ahead of Sunderland
And ahead of the trip to the Stadium of Light, Rohl and Sheffield Wednesday may be handed a major injury boost with Ian Poveda potentially returning.
Rohl has been very coy on the Colombian’s potential return to action before the summer, saying ahead of the Blackburn Rovers win last month:
“Hopefully he’s [Bernard] back before the end of the season. This is of course Di’Shon and Ian [Poveda]. We will see. Di’Shon, my hope is big. Day-to-day, we try to bring him on the grass, and Ian as well. Could be helpful to have both available.”
And now Poveda has been pictured back in first-team training ahead of the weekend:
No rush for Ian Poveda
There’s no doubting that a fit and firing Poveda would’ve made this great escape slightly smoother.
But Sheffield Wednesday have coped well without him in the last few weeks, and if Rohl fancies a summer swoop for the soon-to-be free agent, he might not want to risk Poveda for one final game.
That said, if Poveda feels good to go then there’s no point leaving him out for the sake of it.
He brings a huge dose of quality and attacking threat to the team and against a misfiring Sunderland side, Poveda could really provide the key.
Expect him to start on the bench if he’s fit to return, though if he can play in front of the Wednesday faithful, even if it’s for the last time, it would be a nice moment.