Depleted Wednesday call for changes to league rules on international calls

Under the current system, clubs must have a minimum of three players on international duty in order to postpone a game.

Megson says this ‘punishes’ clubs like Wednesday who will be without two key players – Benin international Reda Johnson and Scottish Under-21 international Liam Palmer – for next week’s local derby against Chesterfield.

“I find it strange the way football is run at the lower levels,” said Megson. “Teams with all the players, the big names and the massive squads, get the opportunity to call their games off. The ones without have to plough on regardless.

“We will have two missing which is a nightmare for us. We will have two players out of a squad that won’t be as big as a Premier League squad – yet we can’t call a game off and postpone it until everyone is there to choose from. In effect, you are being punished for having decent international players.

“You would think they would be a little bit more helpful,” he added. “But then they go and stick another competition in early in the season.”

Johnson and Palmer were both away on international duty earlier this month when the Owls salavaged a point away at Charlton Atheltic.

The pair will be away again next week with Johnson representing Benin in an African Nations Cup qualifier against Rwanda and Palmer included in the Scottish Under-21 squad for European Championship qualifiers against Luxembourg and Austria.

“It’s a hindrance. It’s crazy,” added Megson. “It makes life more and more difficult for clubs in Division One and I am sure in Division Two.

“If you ask the players, I don’t think they actually like going but they have to follow rules and when they come back they are moaning and groaning,” he said. “Until something changes, we have to put up and shut up.”