Sheffield Wednesday v Preston: Henrik Pedersen on stand-out word to describe Nathan Redmond and Liam Cooper

Given the way in which Sheffield Wednesday's squad was wholly ravaged amid a summer of discontent, their value - after the Owls managed to convince the EFL to sanction their signings following improvements to their cashflow forecasts - is likely to be inestimable, more especially heading towards the busiest time of the season.

Former Leeds United captain Cooper, 34, provides redoubtable leadership qualities and a wealth of experience in the heart of a defence currently missing Di'Shon Bernard, expected to be out until February/March.

With talented starlet Ernie Weaver also on the long-term absentee list, it's the timeliest of arrivals.

Redmond, 31, whose last competitive action was at Burnley last season, has penned a short-term deal until January.

Henrik Pedersen has dampened down expectations of the winger starting against Preston, with '20 or 30 minutes' from the bench being the likely scenario given that one-time England international has only featured in three competitive games so far in 2025.

But in the weeks ahead, Pedersen is confident that Redmond's versatility across the frontline will serve as a boon.

Just as importantly, the Owls manager knows he is getting plenty more besides second-tier nous with the duo.

He is getting another couple of 'coaches' on the pitch as he puts it and voices in the dressing room to supplement Barry Bannan and Liam Palmer in particular. Hopefully, they will no longer need to shout themselves hoarse.

Pedersen and the Owls are getting something else as well, which is discernible when the Wednesday boss looks straight into the eyes of Redmond and Cooper, who didn't have to come here, after all.

Pedersen, who says that he does not expect there to be any further free agent signings as it stands - the Owls have an ongoing interest in Duncan Watmore - said: "With both, you get top personalities and a lot of experience. But experience without hunger, I don't see as a big advantage.

"But those two have such big hunger as people and also for the game - to learn new things and they have hunger to give.

"For the other players, it can be for tactical things and when they see young guys who have it difficult, it's how can they support and push them.

"They are two players who can help us to keep the level up, so the difference between when we're really good and not good is going to be smaller. Because they are so stable here.

"You saw at Millwall that the players who play around Coops were not allowed to rest because he always has a job for them.

"That means that the intensity breaks are going to be smaller because there is one player who lifts the level for this intensity. I'm sure it'll be a big advantage for us.

"We have a very strong dressing room because of what they have been through. How the boys have kept the heads up is fantastic.

"Those two guys will add also to this part and it will only make our dressing room stronger."

A victory over a Preston side, whose ranks include two popular former Owls players in Michael Smith and Pol Valentin, would add to the noise levels in the home dressing room this afternoon.

More especially given that it was pretty sombre after last Sunday's very disappointing Steel City derby loss - rightly so.

Relatively quickly, Wednesday - winless in the league at S6 since April 21 - have another home assignment and might just be grateful for that.

Ahead of what promises to be a December of seismic importance in the modern-day history of the club - with administrators hopeful of identifying a preferred bidder in the first half of next month with six potential buyers vying to take over - three points on home soil would serve as a timely tonic for Wednesdayites.

Pedersen, whose side's run without a league win anywhere in now into double figures - the Owls' last success was at Portsmouth on September 20, 11 games ago - added: "It would be amazing.

"I know the boys were very, very disappointed (last Sunday). Now, we have played a really good away game (at Millwall) and I know everyone really wants to play a top home game where the heart and the intensity and all the basic things is top.

"So we want to make it a great, great day, so we have this feeling of 'wow, it's our boys' and hopefully it's enough to win a game again at Hillsborough.