Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen on Championship points deduction, Max Lowe and Pierce Charles
SHEFFIELD Wednesday chief Henrik Pedersen insists that the club's latest points deduction will not demotivate his players at the start of the winter grind - despite the Owls being all but mathematically certain to be playing League One football next season.
The English Football League hit Wednesday with a further six-point sanction on Monday. The punishment relates to the club's failure to pay players in March, May, and June of this year, as well as other non-payments to its staff and HMRC.
Wednesday were previously given a 12-point penalty on October 24 after filing for administration.
The Hillsborough outfit are now on -10 points, 27 points behind fourth-from-bottom Swansea City.
On whether the latest punishment will shatter the morale of players, Pedersen, whose rock-bottom visit Blackburn Rovers on Saturday and are winless in 12 Championship matches, said: "(With) the last games against Preston and Millwall, I think the reaction (from the derby) has been fantastic.
"In the last game, we made a new running record of the season. I know our boys; they are very, very hungry to make the best possible team and to make the best possible result for Sheffield Wednesday and they all want to have the best possible team.
"They all want to have the best possible individual development and that's why we use so much energy for all the goal-setting for the individual player and individual feedback for the player, the group feedback and the group team analysis.
"Of course it's disappointing that we get another point reduction, but for the daily life, it has changed nothing. We still want to come as high as possible in the league table.
"We still make the highest possible standard every day to make the best possible training every day, preparation for each game and the best possible individual development.
"So in the daily life, it means nothing, but of course to stay in the league it's more difficult.
"But we have focus where we can control and here we are setting high standards every day and we will keep on doing this.
"So we do everything every day to make as high standard as possible, to keep everyone on the track to use their potential every day. I'm very convinced that we can keep up the hunger, the discipline and belief. I have it and they have it."
Max Lowe, who missed last weekend's game with Preston with a hamstring injury, was back in training on Thursday and will be assessed ahead of the trip to Ewood Park.
Keeper Pierce Charles, who has been out since injuring his shoulder in August, came through his comeback outing in the Sheffield and Hallamshire Cup unscathed and could potentially be involved.
On Lowe, Pedersen said: "Max was part of the training today.
"Let's see tomorrow if he can do more, but he was a part of the training today.
"Let's see."
And on Charles, he added: "When he will play again, it will be a huge boost for sure. I'm really looking forward.
"Let's see. He will rest today and then we will evaluate on this tomorrow.
"I'm really pleased with what he did yesterday.
"He has trained really, really well. It's typical for young players who just go forward.
"When they get those injuries, then you also start to reflect and really start to be thankful for when you can play again."