One Issue was glaringly obvious at Hillsborough for the Sheffield Wednesday draw vs Preston.
Sheffield Wednesday currently find themselves in 9th position in the Championship following their 1-1 draw with Preston North End at the weekend.
The Owls weren’t quite on top form for the clash with Paul Heckingbottom’s side, going into the interval down by one goal, and they looked to be lacking any sort of creative player in-the centre-of-the-park.
On most occasions, this would be supplied by Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan, however he picked up his fifth yellow card of the 2024/25 Championship campaign in the win against Derby County, where he notched a spectacular goal from outside the box, and as a result was absent for the draw with Preston.
It is obvious that Danny Rohl’s side severely missed the Scotsman at the weekend, and the game was almost a window into what is set to be a prominent issue for Sheffield Wednesday in the near future.
- READ MORE: Danny Rohl reveals ‘injury’ sustained by ‘vastly experienced’ Sheffield Wednesday star after Preston
Sheffield Wednesday must proactively solve life without Barry Bannan issue
Bannan has been a stalwart in this Sheffield Wednesday side, especially this season having started every single game up until the Preston draw, with the result and performance showing that the Owls simply aren’t prepared for life without their captain.
The fact that Bannan’s contract expires at the end of the 2024/25 season is a glaring issue that Sheffield Wednesday need understanding of, whether he looks set to continue his career for another season, in which he should be offered an extended deal, or if he is set to retire.
Whilst the latter seems a potentially strange move, with Bannan still being able to play at Championship level at 35-years-old, it must be a case of the club delving into the transfer market and identifying a top creative midfielder that can potentially start to fill the boots of the Sheffield Wednesday legend.
Could any of the current ranks replace Barry Bannan
Looking at the current options for Sheffield Wednesday that can be utilised in-the centre-of-the-park, Rohl will undoubtedly be keeping a keen eye on 19-year-old midfielder Sean Fusire, who looks likely to be handed an EFL loan this January in order to aid his development.
The youngster looks like one of the few players at the club who could be handed the reins of dictating the play for this Sheffield Wednesday side, as Bannan has done over the years.
It would rely on Fusire notching a brilliant loan spell elsewhere and coming back as a top player, but there is no doubt that he would need help in the role, meaning that Sheffield Wednesday will have to recruit externally to find another suitor for Bannan.