The international break is usually a pretty fruitless time for Sheffield Wednesday players, with very few getting callups to represent their country, but one Owls star could be set for a big opportunity this week.
Most of the Sheffield Wednesday squad will be putting in the hard work on the training ground over the next few days with Danny Rohl, in preparation for the crunch game against Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon.
Indeed, Rohl has big plans for his Sheffield Wednesday players this week and wants to really dig deep into that Steel City derby defeat before the international break.
But, there are a small handful of Sheffield Wednesday players on international duty during this period, and one of them has a huge chance to get a game on Tuesday.
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Di’Shon Bernard has barely played under Steve McLaren
Jamaica have a very familiar face in the dugout these days, with former England manager, Steve McLaren, now in charge there.
But, since his appointment in the summer, Owls defender Di’Shon Bernard has struggled to get game time, despite being a regular for his country prior to that.
In the group stages of the CONCACAF Nations League, Bernard was left on the bench against Cuba, and didn’t even make the matchday squad for the clashes with Honduras and Nicaragua. He did pick up 45 minutes against Honduras in a reverse fixture, though.
This week, Bernard was again left sitting on the bench as Jamaica fell to a 1-0 defeat against the USA in the quarter finals of the Nations League. However, his trip may not have been totally wasted, as there is an opening in McLaren’s next starting XI.
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Mason Holgate hands Di’Shon Bernard big opportunity
It’s all thanks to Mason Holgate, actually, who picked up two yellow cards in the USA defeat, and will now miss the next game for Jamaica.
With McLaren playing a back five, there is a very good chance Bernard could be handed the start among the three centre-backs for the quarter-final second leg on Tuesday.
That would be a major boost for the young defender, but Sheffield Wednesday fans would surely be watching on with a mix of excitement and concern, as the Owls simply cannot afford to lose another centre-half to injury right now.
| Statistic | Di’Shon Bernard 2024/25 (all competitions) |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 17 |
| Minutes played | 1,305 |
| Progressive passes per 90 | 2.23 |
| Pass completion % | 84.8 |
| Tackles won per 90 | 1.17 |
| Clearances per 90 | 3.92 |
With Akin Famewo out long-term and Michael Ihiekwe still finding his way back to full fitness, Bernard has become a crucial figure in Rohl’s backline.
The quick turnaround from Tuesday to the early kick-off on Saturday will be a real push for Bernard, but would hopefully be worth it if he can regain his spot in the Jamaica team as a result.