Sheffield Wednesday skipper Barry Bannan spoke out on Anthony Musaba back in 2023, and what he said is now very interesting from an Owls perspective.
Anthony Musaba, 23, was a star of last season for the Owls, eventually scoring seven goals and assisting five more in 43 Championship outings as Wednesday beat the drop.
Sheffield Wednesday signed Musaba from Monaco for an undisclosed fee. He was very raw in his first season at Hillsborough but scored some vital, winning goals in the Championship, whilst generally being a very good attacking threat on the whole.
This season however, it’s been a different story for Musaba. He’s scored just once in 16 Championship outings now, assisting three more.
And he’s started just seven times in the Championship under Danny Rohl this time round. Musaba started in Sheffield Wednesday’s comeback win against Derby County last time out but failed to make an impact before coming off on the 70-minute mark.
Sheffield Wednesday fans are unimpressed with Musaba this season, with the Dutchman having not improved on his last campaign so far.
What Barry Bannan said about Anthony Musaba in 2023 is now very interesting
Speaking in December 2023, Owls skipper Barry Bannan gave his verdict on both Musaba and Djeidi Gassama.
The pair arrived in the same summer, play in the same positions, and at times last season, were both key players for the Owls.
Gassama has shone in recent weeks for Wednesday having started the last three games now. He’s showing clear signs of improvement, even if he’s got just one goal in 15 league outing this season.
Musaba meanwhile is still proving to be a frustrating player, who now appears to be low on confidence.
Bannan said of Sheffield Wednesday duo Musaba and Gassama last season: “The young boys have been brilliant to get us up the pitch. You can pass the ball to Musaba and Gassama and they’re going to get us a throw-in or a corner.
“We’ve not had that for a while and they’re exciting players… They can be frustrating as well but they just need to be helped along and they can be big assets for this club.”
Anthony Musaba still very ‘frustrating’ for Sheffield Wednesday
Earlier in the season, Sheffield Wednesday fans labelled Musaba as a frustrating player, with the winger just not being able to find that end product as often this season.
To have been frustrating at times last season, and now be equally frustrating this season, is worrying for Musaba and his development.
Something seems to have gone wrong in the last few months but what that is remains to be seen.
Musaba appears to be lacking confidence and so a run of games and one or two goals could be all that’s needed to get him back to where he needs to be.
But it’s going to be down to him. He needs to take his chances when they come and show Rohl that he remains a player with potential yet to fulfil.