Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield Wednesday: Cole McGhee on standby after 'over-playing' veteran leads to yet another injury
Cole McGhee could play only his second Sheffield Wednesday league game on Sunday after Liam Cooper became the latest player to join an injury list crippling the Owls.
Sean Fusire returned from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a substitute in the New Year's Day defeat at Preston North End, Nathan Redmond recovered from injury to make only his second appearance, and Cooper was back after an allergic reaction to pre-match medicine ahead of the final home game of the year, against Blackburn Rovers.
But on-loan goalkeeper Ethan Horvath has returned to Cardiff City as planned, and Cooper came off at Deepdale with a groin strain. Add in the fatigue which will have to be considered by all clubs at the end of the Festive programme this weekend and the Owls will be desperately short again for Sunday's noon kick-off at Queens Park Rangers.
It is why they have been in talks with the Football League to argue for signings in January despite being under embargo until they come out of administration.
There were reports on Friday evening they may be given permission to make two or three loans.
Max Lowe, Di'Shon Bernard, Nathaniel Chalobah, Ike Ugbo and Olaf Kobacki are injured, along with youngsters George Brown, Gui Siqueira, Ernie Weaver and Bruno Fernandes. Yan Valery's Tunisia play Mali at AFCON on Saturday evening.
Left-sided centre-back McGhee and midfielder Jarvis Thornton made first league starts over Christmas and Favour Onukwuli his first appearances from the bench.
Pedersen admits he has over-played former Hull City and Leeds United centre-back Cooper across 529 minutes (plus stoppage time) out of a possible 810 since joining as a free agent in November with no football behind him since his release by CSKA Sofia in the summer.
But the 34-year-old’s experience and left-footedness are important.
“His groin is not good," Pedersen said of Cooper after Thursday’s loss.
"He has played really well for us.
“He means a lot for us, he's a good leader, he's a good defender.
"But he has also played more than he should in relation to his fitness when he came to the club. Let's see how long he's out, but it's not good.”
Although Pedersen brought on Fusire and moved the right-footed Liam Palmer to left-sided central defence on Thursday, he prefers the outside centre-backs in his three-man defence to play on their dominant side, hence McGhee’s Championship debut on Monday.
"Liam (Cooper)'s the only (other) left-footer available right now, and that's why when he couldn't play we put Cole in," explained Pedersen before the Preston game.
"It's a very important thing for us that we can build up with the ball and be effective here."
Horvath's loan was until January, and only allowed when the only goalkeeper with first-team experience, 20-year-old Pierce Charles, needed shoulder surgery. Horvath made 16 appearances in all competitions.
Loanee Harry Amass and free agents Cooper and Redmond are the only outfielders the Owls have been allowed to sign since the financial meltdown at the end of last season which led to a string of transfer embargoes and a ban from buying players until the summer of 2027.
With a preferred bidder – thought to be ex-Sheffield United advisor James Bord – undergoing the League's directors and owners' test, and more importantly the excessive physical demands on a young squad, that could be about to change.