For Danny Rohl, the 2024/25 season has been a frustrating one so far, no less so after the Steel City derby defeat.
Last time out, Sheffield Wednesday lost 1-0 at Sheffield United in a game they could easily have taken something from.
The Owls held their own at Bramall Lane but were beaten by a lapse in concentration at the back, leaving them in 15th place of the Championship table for the November international break.
There’s been some good individual and team performances from Sheffield Wednesday this season. Likewise, there’s been some very poor ones too.
Here we look at three players who really need to step up for Danny Rohl in the coming weeks…
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Yan Valery
Yan Valery enjoyed an impressive Sheffield Wednesday debut against Plymouth Argyle at the start of the season. But he’s not performed as well since.
The Tunisian international has played predominantly at right wing-back, also at right centre-back, and he’s been criticised for a couple of individual errors.
Last time out, Sheffield Wednesday fans blasted Valery for his lax defending that led to Tyrese Campbell’s winning goal in the Steel City derby.
Valery has certainly shown his class going forward. But right now he needs to show his class in defence.
Ike Ugbo
An obvious inclusion in this list is summer signing Ike Ugbo, who’s yet to score a league goal for the Owls since his £2.5million move from Troyes in the summer.
The Canadian has now missed a couple of close-range shots that he would’ve scored last season, suggesting that his confidence has hit rick-bottom.
Rohl defended Ugbo after Sheffield Wednesday’s defeat last weekend. It was a game that Ugbo started and worked hard in, albeit ranking last of all the Owls’ starters for passes and touches of the ball.
He desperately needs a goal. But it’s a goal that he’s going to have to work incredibly hard for.
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Anthony Musaba
The Dutchman was a prolific player for Sheffield Wednesday last season having scored some crucial goals on the road to Championship safety.
In total, Anthony Musaba scored seven and assisted five in the Championship last time round. But the 2023 signing has just one goal and two assists to his name this season.
Sheffield Wednesday fans have been critical of Musaba who they label as a very ‘frustrating’ footballer, for his distinct lack of end product this season.
Rohl really needs more players scoring in the side. Musaba is someone who Rohl knows can score goals, but right now, the 23-year-old isn’t delivering.