Danny Rohl has explained why Sheffield Wednesday’s Di’Shon Bernard missed out against Middlesbrough.
Di’Shon Bernard joined Sheffield Wednesday from Manchester United in the summer and has been a key player ever since, starting 28 games in the Championship this term.
The 23-year-old ‘colossus’ played a key role in the Owls’ four clean sheets prior to their defeat to Leeds United, but now hasn’t featured since the international break.
Bernard jetted off to Texas for Jamaica’s CONCACAF Nations League fixtures after the 6-0 hammering by Ipswich Town and started both games against USA and Panama.
He then returned to Hillsborough and was named in the starting line-up for the draw with Swansea City, but had to pull out due to an injury he picked up in the warm-up.
Supporters were given hope when Bernard was spotted getting off the bus at the Riverside Stadium, but they were let down when he wasn’t even named on the bench.
Rohl has now explained why he didn’t feature against Middlesbrough and when he could return to action.
Di’Shon Bernard wasn’t even ‘close’
Speaking to The Star, the head coach said: “He wasn’t close.
“With his treatments, especially when you have a game every three days and all the physios are here with us, he had to travel with us to get them. He’ll hopefully be available soon, but even when he’s available again he needs rhythm – everybody needs rhythm. Hopefully he’ll come back, but at the moment it’s difficult to say.
“It’s Monday, we have five days to go, and it could be enough. It’s hard to take, but it’s been setbacks, setbacks, setbacks since I arrived. We need to go again.”
Can Sheffield Wednesday turn it around against QPR?
Sheffield Wednesday have endured a difficult few weeks despite the promise that five wins in six games brought last month.
With Bernard being left out against Middlesbrough, Danny Rohl opted to stick with the back three that faced Swansea – with Michael Ihiekwe the only player that started in their previous win over Plymouth.
The Owls have missed some important players since they returned from in the international break and if the likes of Bernard and Ian Poveda can return next time out, then perhaps they can claim all three points.
With QPR now sitting six points above the relegation zone, Danny Rohl’s side will hope they are a little complacent when they travel to Loftus Road this weekend.
The post 'At the moment': Rohl explains Sheffield Wednesday star's absence after 'setbacks' before Boro loss appeared first on Sheffield Wednesday News.