Dave Challinor started work as Sheffield Wednesday's latest manager on Monday and whilst it might seem pretty pressing, he actually has time to think about the question of how his team should play.

The principles Challinor, pictured, wants to see in blue-and-white stripes will have been hammered home on day one, putting into action the promises he will have made in a job interview which, given why Henrik Pedersen was sacked, will almost certainly have centred around front-footed, attacking football.

But when it comes to the formation, he almost has too much to choose from.

Luckily for him, his first two matches are in cup football and his third is likely to be postponed due to international call-ups. Not until the November 20 derby at Barnsley will he have to show his hand.

Of course his decision could be to not have a fixed formation at all. Some teams benefit from having a set shape, particularly those nearer the top of the table who aspire to dictate terms. But Challinor's Stockport County flitted between three and four at the back last season.

The task is always getting as many of your best players on the field in a way that makes the most of as many of them as possible.

Although it did not garner the win Challinor would have wanted as he watched from the Hillsborough stands, Matt Hamshaw's final – at least for now – match as caretaker manager showcased the team in a back three and a four, albeit a 4-4-1, after Sil Swinkels was sent off in the first half.

But the starting 3-4-2-1 will have given food for thought, with Callum Slattery, Davis Keillor-Dunn and Mason Burstow linking well with Jamal Lowe banned, Louie Barry injured, and Harry Gray, Keiran Morrison and Jordi Liongola benched.

OPITONS: Sheffield Wednesday's new manager Dave Challinor (top left) (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)

placeholder image — OPITONS: Sheffield Wednesday's new manager Dave Challinor (top left) (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)

“I was looking to see how I could get two up front and work backwards from there,” said Hamshaw. “It's just about finding a way to win.”

Despite Lowe's productive start to the campaign, centre-forward does not look the strong point of this squad. Keillor-Dunn can play as one but he too is a free spirit, better in the hole or at last as one of a pair. Slattery and Gray are best not tied to the wings.

The Owls also have plenty of solid centre-halves. Even with Liam Cooper and Di'Shon Bernard injured, they were still able to field Swinkels, Liam Palmer and Ernie Weaver, and have Gabriel Otegbayo on the bench.

Three at the back also makes it easy to get Max Lowe and Reece James – when fit again in four to six weeks' time – in the same side.

BIG LOSS: Louie Barry (Image: Steve Ellis)

Giving Yan Valery freedom as a wing-back should get the best out of him too.

But by the same token, a fit Barry and Liverpool loanee Morrison are two of the better players, and most effective wide. Morrison is young and still erratic but a proper winger; the absence of wide attacker Barry seems to have hit the squad harder than it ought to have.

So perhaps a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-4-2 is in order.

Ultimately what did for Pedersen was the sense that he was not getting the best out of some talented ingredients. Finding the right mix is Challinor's challenge.