Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen details likelihood of Liam Cooper facing Sheffield United
Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen believes new signing Liam Cooper will be ready for the Steel City derby - but it may come too early for him to start.
The 34-year-old was unveiled as a Wednesday player earlier this week, becoming the club’s first permanent addition of the season.
He had initially been targeted in the summer, but was only signed once the Owls had been given the green light to get two free agents on board.
The former Leeds United captain could be part of Wednesday’s squad for their derby battle with Sheffield United on Sunday (November 23) - even if it may be too early for a start.
Liam Cooper latest
Pedersen said: "I think he'll be ready for Sunday. He's fantastic. For this market, to find experience is easy. To find experience with hunger can be difficult. He has both.
“To find experience with hunger, but [someone] who is also ready to give and not only to get. He's fantastic, the way he leads in the training, how he supports the players around him, how he makes an example for what is okay and what is not okay. It is fantastic. I'm really happy for Liam.
“You cannot stop him from being a good leader. We are seeing this every day. Maybe it's too early [for a start] but he's doing really well. You can see him playing on a high, high level. He has been there for a reason.”
Returning internationals
Pedersen also brushed off concerns regarding the Wednesday players who have been jetting around the globe on international duty.
Defender Yan Valery was among them, helping Tunisia pull off a shock and hold Brazil to a 1-1 draw.
Pedersen said: "He came back with a big smile and a proud performance. I asked 'what did you learn most from this game against Brazil?'. He said 'the concentration, I have to be concentrated all the time'.
“He said it with a smile and with confidence. We have to be proud to have a player like Yan in our squad, so I'm really happy that he's back and also back with a smile.”
Bailey Cadamarteri picked up his fourth Jamaica cap with a substitute appearance against Curaçao and has trained well despite clocking up plenty of miles in the air.
Pedersen said: "I don't know yet who will be in the starting XI. Bailey came back and trained well today. We have a big group of players training well at the moment and he's one of them."
Harry Amass, meanwhile, completed two sets of 90 minutes on duty for England Under-19s. However, the on-loan Manchester United prodigy has also returned to the Owls camp in high spirits.
Pedersen said: "He was really happy when he came back because he said 'wow gaffer, I can feel I'm better now, I feel it's easier to play those games now'. It was a happy boy we got back from the national team and he is also really, really looking forward to Sunday.”
Injury blow for youngster
One player who will not be featuring in the Steel City derby is teenage prospect Bruno Fernandes. Pedersen has confirmed the 19-year-old faces six to eight weeks out of action.
He said: "Bruno is out now for six to eight weeks. One man down, but the rest who will be fit again will be in two or three weeks I think. It's a muscle injury."