Sheffield Wednesday signed Almen Abdi from Watford last summer.
Abdi was signed by Wednesday from Watford last summer, and there was great excitement about the diminutive midfielder’s arrival at Hillsborough.
However, Abdi failed to live up to expectations, with injury problems blighting his progress.
And Carvalhal admits that he has seen encouraging signs recently that Abdi could yet turn things around at Wednesday.
The Portuguese boss said: “When he joined us last season, he came down from the Premier League and expectations were high.
“He had a really bad season.
“But he is pushing and trying to get into the team. He has a problem with his knee but he is going better and better.”
Abdi has played one match so far this season, when he started in Wednesday’s League Cup victory over Chesterfield.
Whether the Swiss midfielder will come back into Carvalhal’s first-team remains to be seen, as the Owls have plenty of midfield options.
Wednesday are next in action tomorrow evening, when they take on an unbeaten Sunderland side in Championship action.
The Owls are still looking for their first league victory this season, after picking up just one point from their first two fixtures.
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