Sheffield Wednesday were as bad as they’ve been all season against Preston North End. But for Danny Rohl, one player was a saving grace.
Danny Rohl got his midfield selection wrong against Preston. Barry Bannan and Liam Palmer came in, but to no effect, with Rohl then just bringing Svante Ingelsson on at half-time.
Sheffield Wednesday fans were unimpressed with Palmer who’s made just seven starts this season, and with Bannan available for the midweek game against Blackburn Rovers coming up, doesn’t look likely to start again any time soon.
It’s worrying how poor Wednesday look with Bannan not in the side: that’s especially true
considering that Bannan’s Sheffield Wednesday future is up in the air right now.
In the second half of the game against Preston, Nathaniel Chalobah came on for the Owls.
Chalobah made his Sheffield Wednesday debut in the game against Derby County last weekend, and he looked good in the limited time he had on the pitch.
Nathaniel Chalobah’s positive stats for Sheffield Wednesday vs Preston
Chalobah looked good coming off the bench once again against Preston. He steadied the flow in midfield and if he hadn’t have spent so much time injured this season, he could’ve been the best bet to start alongside Shea Charles in the midfield.
Coming off the bench in the 73rd minute, Chalobah recorded 18 passes and ended the game with a pass success rate of 85%.
The 29-year-old also won one out of three duels, racking up three defensive actions as well, with two clearances and one tackle on the day.
Barry Bannan already loves Nathaniel Chalobah at Sheffield Wednesday
Bannan gave his verdict on Sheffield Wednesday teammate Chalobah after his debut, speaking positively of the one-cap former England man.
Bannan said: “Nathaniel Chalobah was brilliant. I was tired towards the end and he helped me… it shows you that everyone is ready when they’re called upon, and that’s a big thing for us going forward.”
And it might be Bannan that keeps Chalobah out of the team for the foreseeable. But the ex-Chelsea man seems to have quickly put himself high in midfield pecking order, whilst Palmer has dropped well down after Preston.
Bannan and Charles are the best midfield pairing but Rohl may experiment with a three going forward, should Chalobah keep on impressing off the bench.