Sheffield Wednesday need to replace the suspended Di’Shon Bernard this weekend.
Sheffield Wednesday have found some brilliant form recently, while their defence looks to have massively improved after conceding only three goals in their last four games – two of which came against the best team in the league in Leicester City.
The Owls appear to have finally found a settled backline that consists of Pol Valentin, Liam Palmer, Michael Ihiekwe, Marvin Johnson and Di’Shon Bernard.
However, the latter really threw a spanner in the works last time out when he was shown a red card in the latter stages of their win over Bristol City.
Bernard will now serve a one-match suspension and will miss out on their all-important trip to Rotherham United.
While The Millers currently sit glued to the bottom of the Championship table, this clash would well be the most important of the season for the visitors, who could be separated from safety by only goal difference by Sunday.
Danny Rohl will surely be eager to stick with his same tactics and a majority of the same team that has beaten Bristol City, Millwall and Birmingham in recent weeks – but Bernard will need replacing.
In fact, the 23-year-old’s absence comes at the perfect time (if there is one), as the club have only just welcomed Dominic Iorfa back into the fold.
The defender has been sidelined for almost two months now, but made his comeback from the bench last time out.
One defender out, another one in
Iorfa had played three consecutive games at right-back prior to his injury, however the upturn in form for Pol Valentin means he is rather surplus to requirements on that side of defence now.
With Bernard out, ‘fantastic’ Iorfa could instead be handed the opportunity to get back to his best in the middle.
Changing to a back four just because Bernard is unavailable seems like a big mistake and his teammate should instead be handed a start, having really impressed under Rohl before he picked up his injury.
Having all these brilliant defenders at his disposal can only benefit Rohl and his team, while the likes of Michael Ihiekwe and Liam Palmer are two players who have been unexpectedly vital to the side’s recent success.
Bernard will surely be well aware that he won’t just slip straight back into the backline once he returns, especially if the boys can put on a solid performance at the New York Stadium.