Southampton v Sheffield Wednesday: Ike Ugbo needs rhythm, not rotation, says Henrik Pedersen

The 27-year-old has started three of the last four matches and despite the strong case for rotation at the end of a three-game week for both sides, he can expect to do so again versus managerless Southampton.

Signed with great fanfare after a successful loan in the second half of 2023-24, the only two goals Ugbo have scored since have come in cup matches. But Pedersen believes the answer is to build up his confidence and allow him to find a rhythm.

"Ugo played again on Wednesday and I think he did really well at West Brom,” reflected Pedersen, whose side are battling hard but are 17 points from safety after a deduction for being in administration.

"I also think it can be difficult to get a rhythm if you always change.

"There is a reason why the other players do it well, it's also because they have a lot of starts after each other and that's also what I have tried to do now with Ugo, to give him some more stats. Then we will evaluate if we need new energy on Saturday or what we will do.”

Adding to the Owls' problems this week has been the fact that the Saints are under caretaker management, with Tonda Eckert taking the reins after the sacking of Will Still. Eckert started with a win at Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday, but is still expected to make way, with former Portsmouth and Middlesbrough midfielder Gary O'Neil the strong favourite.

"Normally we are done with the analysis on the (previous) gameday but of course with this game, we have to look at (Southampton's midweek performance) and then we will see what they have done and make a plan.

"We have to recover, recover and recover but we will be ready and we will be looking forward to the game on Saturday.”

The Owls go into the game on the back of consecutive draws and former Southampton player Yan Valery believes only a second victory of the season is edging closer.

"If we keep being strong and playing like we did in the last two games and keep creating those type of chances, I don't see why we can't get three points,” said Valery, recently repurposed as a central midfield player.

"We need to go to Southampton with full confidence, and go to win.

"It's my first time back so it will be special. They're a club I still have in my heart. I still know people who work there, players.

"I've been through the academy and stayed there for so long. It was all I'd known in England before Sheffield.

"It was a big part of my life and I have a lot of respect for them and the people that work there.

"But when I'm on the pitch I'm just there to win and we're going there to get the three points.

"I'm a competitor so I'm going there to win."

Nathaniel Chalobah is back in training after the injury he picked up on the opening weekend of the season, but his return to senior football is still some way off.

"I think still it will take three or four weeks before he will be back again,” warned Pedersen.

"I'm looking forward to him being back again."

Meanwhile, with the club's administrators hopeful of making a £1m profit by the end of January, they have written to assure non-playing staff they will be paid on time in November and December.

As a goodwill gesture, they will receive their December pay on the 23rd instead of New Year's Eve, as scheduled.