Sheffield Wednesday have 30 senior players to call upon.
Sheffield Wednesday’s slow start to the new season belies the fact their near-promotion-winning squad has actually improved over the summer months.
Steven Fletcher, Almen Abdi and Adam Reach have notably arrived from Premier League clubs, leaving head coach Carlos Carvalhal with an albeit healthy selection headache.
Were the Portuguese asked of his strongest eleven it would likely include those three, leaving a string of first team stars to watch on from the sidelines. Enough, perhaps, to make a competent Championship side of its own.
How would this Wednesday XI get on?
Joe Wildsmith
The England Under-21 international has proved himself an able deputy in Keiren Westwood’s absence and few would be concerned were his name to appear on Saturday’s teamsheet.
Liam Palmer
Though second choice, Palmer was used fairly frequently by Carlos last season – often in difficult away fixtures away from home. The way Jack Hunt’s going, he may be handed an extended run in the coming weeks.
Vincent Sasso
Signed as fourth-choice after an OK spell on loan last season, Sasso, you feel, is aware of his role in the team: Behind Tom Lees, Sam Hutchinson and Glenn Loovens.
Glenn Loovens
Would have been first pick beside Lees were it not for injury. Hutchinson has the shirt for now though.
Urby Emanuelson
He may be a big name – counting Ajax, AC Milan and Roma as former clubs – but the Dutchman has lost his way in recent years and will have his work cut out deposing Daniel Pudil, having not played since last season.
Ross Wallace
Wallace was a key player last season but has struggled in the early stages of this campaign. Signed for £5 million, it is hard to envisage Reach being left out too often.
David Jones
Would be many people’s first pick, having been key to Burnley’s success last season. However, the centre of the park is Wednesday’s most congested area in terms of quality, and his suspension means he’s already playing catch up.
Lewis McGugan
Not fancied by Carlos but would get into most Championship sides outside the top six, you feel – unlike Jose Semedo or Filipe Melo. While his quality cannot be questioned, others – namely Kieran Lee and Barry Bannan – are simply more suited to Wednesday’s system.
Will Buckley
One one of the Championship’s best at Brighton, Buckley’s career has stagnated since his move to Sunderland. He would have been a certain starter pre-Chansiri.
Lucas Joao
Was unplayable until around December last year, when he lost his place to Gary Hooper. At 23, and with three years left on his deal, there’s still time for Joao to worm his way back in.
Gary Hooper
Hooper scored 13 goals last season, despite playing his first game for Wednesday in November. However, Fletcher’s arrival has seen the former Celtic striker demoted to second choice this term. A scapegoat for many, in truth he hasn’t had the service he would have liked so far. The Owls have had few more natural goalscorers than Hooper in recent times.
“Can’t even get in Wednesday’s reserves”:
Jake Kean, Claude Dielna, Jeremy Helan, Filipe Melo, Jose Semedo, Modou Sougou, Marco Matias, Sergiu Bus, Atdhe Nuhiu.
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