Sheffield Wednesday's head coach, Henrik Pedersen, is optimistic about the potential return of Sean Fusire for their upcoming New Year’s Day matchup against Preston North End at Deepdale.
Following Zimbabwe's exit from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Monday, there’s a chance that Fusire could be back in the squad sooner than expected. The Zimbabwean team, managed by Mario Marinica, faced a disappointing end to their tournament journey, losing 3-2 to South Africa. This defeat left them at the bottom of Group B, having only secured one point out of a possible seven. Their performance included losses to Egypt (2-1) and South Africa, interspersed with a draw against Angola (1-1).
For Fusire, who had been allowed to play in Wednesday's recent 3-0 loss to Derby County before joining his national team, it was unfortunate that he didn’t get any playing time in Morocco, remaining on the bench throughout all three matches.
On a positive note, this early exit means he could return to Middlewood Road feeling refreshed after being sidelined for over two weeks without competitive play. From Sheffield Wednesday’s perspective, this is a silver lining amidst their ongoing injury woes, as they look to bolster their limited squad with Fusire's return.
Pedersen has not dismissed the possibility of including the young wing-back in the lineup at Deepdale on Thursday afternoon. In a light-hearted comment to The Star following Monday night’s 0-0 draw against Blackburn Rovers, he quipped, "I hope he’s sitting on a flight now!" When asked about Fusire’s chances of featuring in the match, he stated, "I don't know. But, of course, I hope. However, we are trying to contact him and find the quickest possible flight back to Manchester and then to Sheffield."
Fusire, only 20 years old, has been a key player for the Owls prior to his international duty, starting nearly all Championship games since the October international break, missing just two. He has made a total of 21 appearances for the club this season, contributing one goal.
This situation raises an interesting question: How do teams balance the demands of international duty with their commitments to club football? Share your thoughts below!
