The predicted Sheffield Wednesday XI Henrik Pedersen will play v Leicester City - "Ike Ugbo needs to step up" | OneFootball

FLW’s Owls expert picks his team for their Championship opener v the Foxes on Sunday.

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk‘ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Sheffield Wednesday are set to take on Leicester City in their Championship opener this Sunday.

However, despite the game being a matter of days away, uncertainty looms over the Owls, who have endured a tumultuous off-season of unpaid wages, important player departures, and instability both in the dugout and the boardroom.

With only 15 senior players available for selection, a threadbare squad and several key questions still unanswered, the starting XI against Leicester may reflect necessity more than strategy.

To get a sense of what could happen, Football League World turned to our resident Owls expert and fan pundit Patrick McKenna, who picked the Wednesday starting XI he’d like to see line up at the King Power Stadium this Sunday.

“Yeah, it's a bit of a strange one choosing this starting eleven for Leicester, but I suppose, let’s make a go of it.” McKenna told FLW.

His answer for between the sticks, however, was affirmative: “So in net, obviously it is going to be Pierce Charles.”

Right-back

“And I think at the back I'd go with a back four that kind of picks itself.

"Valery at right back,” was McKenna’s man on the right flank for Wednesday, with the Tunisian international hoping to follow up his impressive debut campaign at Hillsborough with another strong showing next season.

“Dominic Iorfa and Gabriel Otegbayo in the centre,” were McKenna’s chosen defensive pairing in the heart of Pedersen's backline.

Iorfa, now entering his eighth season in blue and white, offers some rare continuity in a squad that’s been turned upside down in recent years - and McKenna sees his experience as crucial at the heart of defence.

4 Gabriel Otegbayo

For Otegbayo, it would mark the start of his first full senior season, having broken through during the last campaign.

With Di’Shon Bernard still sidelined following a serious knee injury, McKenna sees the 19 year old as the natural - if enforced - choice to step up.

5 Max Lowe

Left-back

“Max Lowe at left back” completes McKenna’s Owls backline.

However, uncertainty clouds his involvement, with reports suggesting he is among the players looking to trigger a 14-day notice period over unpaid wages.

6 Nathaniel Chalobah

Defensive midfield

“So then kind of thinking towards the formation, I'd be thinking at 4-3-3 in midfield,” said our Owls expert.

“I'd have Nathaniel Chalobah, Barry Bannan, and Svante Ingelsson. Chalobah taking on the defensive role.”

7 Svante Ingelsson

Central midfield

Svante Ingelsson features in McKenna’s midfield setup - a player who made a real impression on his debut this time last year against Plymouth Argyle, but has struggled to hit those same heights with any consistency since.

McKenna believes that putting Chalobah in a more defensive midfield role should give “Ingelsson and Bannan a bit more freedom”.

8 Barry Bannan

Barry Bannan completes the midfield - and while he may be the last piece of the trio, he’s likely the first name on the teamsheet in times like these.

Now entering his 11th season at Hillsborough, the talismanic captain has re-signed under the current regime, a show of loyalty and belief that Wednesday fans will be clinging to.

Make no mistake: the team will need him this season.

Centre-forward

Ike Ugbo, the hero of the 2023/24 comeback campaign, failed to find the back of the net at all last season in the Championship, but McKenna is backing him to lead the line again:

“I think, looking at the forward line, although last season was a nightmare for Ugbo – simply, he needs to play and step up this season, so I’m going to put Ike Ugbo in at centre-forward.”

10 Olaf Kobacki

Olaf Kobacki is McKenna’s pick on the left wing - a bit of an unknown quantity, having rarely featured for Wednesday last season.

“On the left hand side, I'd be picking Olaf Kobacki.

“Those are players who last season never really got going and were down the pecking order behind Musaba and Gassama, but now with them gone, they have to kind of step up.”