Salford City v Sheffield Wednesday: Henrik Pedersen planning strong XI for game he will take 'seriously'
Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen has looked ahead to his side’s EFL Trophy meeting with Salford City
Promotion from League One is the primary aim for Sheffield Wednesday – but Henrik Pedersen is taking the EFL Trophy “very, very seriously”.
The competition is often derided but there are many managers in the EFL’s bottom two tiers who see value in it.
Pedersen appears to be among them as he has laid out his desire to field a strong XI for his side’s visit to fourth-tier Salford City tonight (September 22).
Henrik Pedersen on EFL Trophy
As reported by The Star, he said: “We start with Tuesday evening, and on Tuesday evening we will put a good team on the pitch. We will take it very, very seriously, and we will have the best out of this game.
“I’m looking forward to Tuesday to make a good game.”
Among those who could feature is popular defender Di’Shon Bernard following his recovery from a long-term injury.
Pedersen said: “It's still the goal that he will play on Tuesday. We have not decided this yet, but I imagine 45 minutes or something.”
Looking for an attacking spark
After drab goalless draws with Wigan Athletic and Stockport County, the AIG Stadium meeting presents Wednesday with an opportunity to get their attacking juices flowing.
Pedersen said: “We all want to have it much, much better. We want to have the basic thing, we want to have a higher intensity, we want to have really aggressive pressing, we want to have quick transitions, and we want to be dominant on the ball.
“It's easier to create a defensive team who just press, but also to create a team who has to be dominant on the ball.
“Of course it takes more time, it's the most difficult thing. But I'm very confident that we'll have a team who will score a lot of goals."