Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen has confirmed Tyler Onyango has suffered an ACL injury.
Sheffield Wednesday were victorious in their opening day win over Leyton Orient. Callum Slattery and Jamal Lowe got the goals in a 2-1 win for SWFC, but one negative was the early withdrawal of summer signing Tyler Onyango through injury.
Now, in a hammer blow for Onyango and the Owls, Henrik Pedersen has confirmed the new midfielder has suffered an ACL injury. Speaking to the media ahead of Thursday’s game against Bradford City, he said: “Tyler has injured his ACL and I think he will be out for many months. It is so sad for him and for everyone.”
It remains to be seen just how long Onyango faces out, but it is potentially a season-ending blow for the former Everton youngster. He will likely have to undergo surgery before beginning his long road to recovery.
How will Sheffield Wednesday respond to Tyler Onyango’s serious injury blow?
First things first, Sheffield Wednesday will be sure to rally around Onyango. It is a cruel blow to suffer so early into the season, so the staff and players will be supporting him through this cruel setback.
The SWFC medical and physio teams will assess the best course of action for his recovery, which will likely begin with surgery. From there, the focus turns to rehabilitation, which can be a long and winding road to navigate.
From another perspective, the blow may well force Wednesday back into the transfer market. Onyango’s start against Leyton Orient showed how he has impressed Pedersen, so the boss may be keen to recruit a similar tall and versatile defensive midfield player as cover.
Action on this front will need to be swift as the end of the transfer window nears. The Owls are sure to be considering all options in the wake of the blow.
The Verdict: A significant blow for Sheffield Wednesday and Tyler Onyango
Onyango has proven himself as a solid player in his League One stints with Stockport County and Burton Albion. He mainly plays as a defensive midfielder but can be used as a no.8 or drop into a centre-back role.
That versatility will be missed, and his physicality in the middle isn’t something another Sheffield Wednesday midfielder possesses. It limits Pedersen’s flexibility and decreases the variety of profiles he has in that area.
Sheffield Wednesday’s remaining midfielders
- Barry Bannan
- Callum Slattery
- Billy Mitchell
- Jarvis Thornton
The one silver lining for SWFC is that there is still time to address this. They can sign a replacement for Onyango, perhaps on a season-long loan or free transfer deal to provide ample cover while he recovers.
For Onyango, he will hope to play a role away from the pitch to ensure his influence is still felt as he settles into life at Hillsborough.
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