While all the focus for Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl will undoubtedly be on the impending game against Norwich City, it would be foolish not to at least have some form of a plan for the Steel City derby coming up at the weekend.
Wednesday host Norwich at Hillsborough tonight, and it’s a game that could have a huge impact on the Sheffield derby if the Owls were to pick up a positive result.
While the game itself is a great opportunity to win three points and get back on track after the disastrous defeat against Watford at the weekend, it’s also a chance for Danny Rohl to introduce some players who could make a difference against the Blades, too.
One player, who has been out of favour of late after a disappointing start to his Wednesday career, has the potential to be influential in the derby, but he’s going to need to get some minutes under his belt against Norwich first.
Max Lowe has to win over Sheffield Wednesday fans
After arriving from local rivals Sheffield United in the summer on a free transfer, it’s safe to say Max Lowe was already starting at a disadvantage when it came to endearing himself to the Wednesday faithful.
Fast forward a few months, and Lowe is still struggling to win over the fanbase, with a number of sub-par performances leaving the left-back fighting for his place in Rohl’s lineup.
Lowe has already been slammed for his performance in the defeat to Sunderland earlier this season, and we cited the 27-year-old as one of the players that needs to step up his game after a poor start to the campaign.
Still, while Lowe’s displays have not been particularly pleasing to the eye, there are statistics that suggest he could be more important than first thought.
His defensive work in the win over Portsmouth was especially impressive, with a number of big tackles, blocks, and clearances helping his side hold on to the lead, while he has also registered a decent percentage of accurate key passes this season.
Former Sheffield United man could be key in Steel City derby
That kind of defensive awareness and proficiency in the tackle could be crucial for what will surely be a passionate and intense Sheffield derby on Sunday.
Plus, the fact that Lowe left United in the summer after four years at the club could give him the edge in a game that means so much to so many, as he will know exactly how big this clash truly is.
The full-back will be desperate to show the Blades what they are missing, and that kind of extra motivation can be enough to turn a good performance into a great one.
If he is to be utilised at the weekend, though, Lowe will need some game time on Tuesday night, especially if Rohl is thinking about switching up his formation and employing three centre-backs in his lineup for these two tough matches.
The defence needs rotating after that horror show against Watford anyway, so throwing Lowe in as the left-sided centre-back against Norwich would be a very low-risk, high-reward move from Rohl, and one that could give the defender the boost he needs to make a difference at the weekend.