Sunday’s Steel City derby is of course a huge game for both sets of Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday players. But maybe even more so for one Owls man.
Sheffield Wednesday play at Bramall Lane on Sunday. It’s a first game in S2 for Danny Rohl and a first Steel City derby for the Owls’ German boss.
Ahead of the weekend, the Blades sit in 2nd place of the Championship table after their 2-1 win at Bristol City in the week, whilst Sheffield Wednesday sit in 15th after a 2-0 win against Norwich City at Hillsborough in midweek.
The Steel City derby is bound to be fiercely contested. It’s a sell out crowd at Bramall Lane, and the United fans may have a particularly hostile reception for Wednesday’s Max Lowe, who joined the Owls after his United release in the summer.
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Max Lowe eyeing Sheffield Wednesday win in Steel City derby
Lowe turned heads and perhaps upset a few Blades when he decided to join Sheffield Wednesday in the summer.
Sheffield United fans didn’t speak positively of Lowe after he moved to S6, criticising some of his performances during his four years with the club.
He’s since made 10 Championship outings for Wednesday, with mixed performances on the whole, but a positive couple of games ahead of the Steel City derby.
Speaking in the summer, Lowe gave his prediction for this upcoming Steele City derby, saying: “Yeah it should be a good one and hopefully we beat them.”
Lowe had numerous injuries during his time at Sheffield United, also spending time out on loan. He was certainly at a bit of a crossroads in the summer, but after signing for the Owls, Lowe explained how Rohl convinced him to join Sheffield Wednesday.
Max Lowe can repay Danny Rohl faith with Steel City derby performance
Recently, Lowe has been playing, and impressing, in an unfamiliar left centre-back role, owing to the injury to Akin Famewo.
And Lowe has been tipped to start against Sheffield United this weekend too. For the 27-year-old, it’s of course a huge game, more so than for most players perhaps, and he’ll be desperate to both prove his United doubters wrong and show Rohl exactly why he was right to sign him.
Sheffield United could be without Kieffer Moore this weekend. Lowe and the Owls defence don’t yet know what they’ll be up against, and after some shaky defensive displays of late, it could well be a long afternoon.
But a good performance, as a team and as individuals, could be the catalyst Wednesday need to finally build some consistency.