Sheffield Wednesday take on Werder Bremen in Austria on Friday afternoon, in their second-to-last pre-season friendly.
Sheffield Wednesday are back in Austria once more where they face German Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen.
It’s Danny Rohl‘s second-to-last pre-season friendly with his Sheffield Wednesday first-team squad, who then face Leganes in Liam Palmer’s testimonial match.
The Owls’ kick off their 2024/25 Championship season with a game vs Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle at Hillsborough next month.
But before that, here are five things Sheffield Wednesday fans should look out for in the game v Werder Bremen…
Di’Shon Bernard inclusion for Sheffield Wednesday
Di’Shon Bernard has signed a new contract with Sheffield Wednesday, putting pen-to-paper on a three-year deal after his previous contract expired at the end of last month.
He’s yet to play in pre-season for the Owls, having played in Copa America with Jamaica earlier in the summer.
But Bernard is now with the squad and looks set to feature vs Werder Bremen, possibly from the off.
Sheffield Wednesday shape under Danny Rohl
Sheffield Wednesday ended last season in a 5-2-2-1 shape, which seemed to become their best set up under Rohl.
Last time out against Red Bull Salzburg, Sheffield Wednesday played in what appeared to be a 4-2-3-1 formation.
So it’ll be interesting to see what shape Sheffield Wednesday line up in against Bremen, with Rohl perhaps considering chopping and changing between 5-2-2-1 and 4-2-3-1 next season, depending on opposition and players available.
Who will lead the line for Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday now have a few more options to play as the lone striker, with Bailey Cadamarteri having played that role vs Salzburg.
Though Rohl also has Josh Windass, Jamal Lowe, and Michael Smith in that position, and Rohl has often spoken about having different profiles of strikers at his disposal, which is what his current options are.
With Rohl weighing up a loan exit for Cadamarteri, it’ll be interesting to see if he starts, and if he does, how he performs.
Danny Rohl’s full-back options
Like in attack, Rohl now has a couple of options in the full-back areas; Marvin Johnson and Max Lowe on the left and Pol Valentin and Yan Valery on the right.
Johnson and Valentin started in a back-four against Salzburg. Though there may be an argument that the pair are better-suited as wing-backs in a back-five, and that Lowe and Valery are much better-suited as standard full-backs in a back-four.
Depending on what shape Rohl lines up in vs Bremen, it’ll certainly be interesting to see who dons the full-back positions.
Can James Beadle maintain his early momentum for Sheffield Wednesday
James Beadle was the standout player vs Salzburg; he made a string of saves to keep his side in the game and he’ll be hoping to keep this early form up ahead of the new season.
Last time round, Beadle made one or two errors for Sheffield Wednesday. It was inevitable given the style of play and his inexperience, and it’ll have no doubt knocked his confidence when it did happen.
But having gotten some Championship experience under his belt, Rohl will be keen for Beadle to show more confidence and assurance in goal next season, and keep up his impressive development.
