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Summer signing Louie Barry has missed the past nine League One games for Sheffield Wednesday with an ankle injury

By

Rob Staton

BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

  • Published24 minutes ago

Dave Challinor's first act as Sheffield Wednesday boss will probably be to check in with the medical staff.

The loss of Reece James for multiple weeks is a blow - he's been one of Wednesday's better performers.

Ali Al-Hamadi is also set for another spell on the sidelines, with the striker's loan spell yet to really get going.

There was no Billy Mitchell, Di'Shon Bernard, Joe Lumley or Liam Cooper against Blackpool. Theextended absence of Louie Barryhas also heavily impacted the Owls.

That Wednesday are two points off the top six and six points from the top two - with a game in hand - despite all of their injuries highlights the opportunity presented to Challinor. Get fit and results can quickly improve.

Barry's return will be an enormous boost as the way he was playing pre-Wycombe suggested he could be Wednesday's talisman this year.

Put the playmaker on the pitch at the same time as Davis Keillor-Dunn and there should be no shortage of goals.

There are still big question marks in the number nine position but perhaps Challinor can tap into Harry Gray's upside, either centrally or out wide to really cap things off from an attacking sense?

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Sheffield Wednesday are without a win in their past four league games (D2 L2) and have won just one of their past eight matches (D5 L2)

Cooper's fitness is critical at the back. He's been playing at a high level and his leadership has been strong enough to make a case for the new manager giving him the armband.

My understanding is the club, as part of the broad action taking place at every level under the new owners, hired consultants to look at the medical side of things.

It is a good idea, given the increasing number of injuries across football these days. This is definitely an area to leave no stone unturned.

If Wednesday's squad can stay relatively healthy - they have a shot. They will have a chance to be in the heart of the promotion mix.

What I have heard from multiple sources who have been around Dave Challinor is that he is firm and very prepared to do whatever he thinks is best to get a result. He carries a presence. I'm looking forward to meeting him.

Challinor is a multiple promotion winner now taking on a new challenge - one that is very different to his previous gigs.

Life at Wednesday, especially in League One, can be unforgiving. Wins are expected.

The sense I get from supporters is they are intrigued and optimistic about this appointment.

But Challinor will know as well as anyone that when a club the size of Wednesday is in the third tier, regardless of the circumstances of how it got there, you need results.

The fixture schedule helps. He will have a chance to look at his players in the FA Cup and EFL Trophy.

There's a reasonable chance the Plymouth game will be postponed due to international call-ups, meaning his first league game might not be until 20 November in the South Yorkshire derby against Barnsley.

This gives Challinor a good opportunity to assess things in two cup games, with plenty of time to prepare for the return of the league action.

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