Barry Bannan tops crucial Championship stat as Sheffield Wednesday ‘leader’ shines amid crisis

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Sheffield Wednesday have suffered over the past few months, but skipper Barry Bannan remains their shining light.

The plight of the summer months at Sheffield Wednesday has seeped into the 2025/26 Championship season with the Owls slumping to the relegation zone early on.

Before the international break, Sheffield Wednesday were beaten by Swansea City 2-0 at Hillsborough to leave the Owls in 23rd, one spot above their rock-bottom neighbours Sheffield United.

This weekend, the Owls face Bristol City with a 13-year record to protect, and Henrik Pedersen will be desperate to oversee his first win as Sheffield Wednesday manager.

Clearly, Owls skipper Barry Bannan will be as crucial as always to Sheffield Wednesday’s prospects this weekend, with the Scotsman in typically fine form already in one metric in particular.

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Barry Bannan has created joint-most chances in Championship

The future of the dynamic midfielder was a particular point of fear for the Owls fanbase during a summer of suffering in S6.

After Bannan was linked with Middlesbrough and Millwall, the Scotsman continued his stay at Sheffield Wednesday.

Despite the Owls’ ongoing financial crisis overseen by owner Dejphon Chansiri, Bannan signed a new contract at Sheffield Wednesday.

Since then, he has continued to prove how crucial he is for the Owls despite entering the twilight of his career.

Bannan scored Sheffield Wednesday’s first against Wrexham to halve the deficit, which led to Bailey Cadamarteri’s equaliser.

As well as goals, Bannan has been exemplary in carving out opportunities for his teammates, with the Scotsman topping the chances created list in the Championship so far this season with 12.

According to data from Fotmob, only Southampton full-back Ryan Manning equals Bannan in terms of chances created so far this term, with Stoke City star Sorba Thomas just below on 11.

Given his supreme quality, the veteran Owls midfielder is proving that age is just a number in the Championship, and head coach Pedersen has been elated with his skipper.

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Henrik Pedersen hails Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan

Over the course of the summer, Pedersen was key to keeping Bannan at Sheffield Wednesday, and the two have formed an important bond to lead the stricken Owls.

Although Bannan was sent off against Leicester City, his discipline has otherwise been outstanding, and his leadership qualities continue to be crucial for Wednesday.

As quoted by the Sheffield Star, Pedersen recently hailed Bannan: “With Barry there is the football player, the friend to his teammates, the leader.

“I have spent a lot of time with Barry for his leadership qualities. The game at Wrexham was one of his best leadership games that I have seen. He stayed with the focus through the game.

“How stable he was in Wrexham, how much of a good mirror he was for the other guys.

“Players were looking for Barry because it is ‘I can trust him, I can follow him’. I know Barry is an older football player, but he is very, very hungry to learn things about himself, to be a good leader. He is growing a lot in the moment.

“I have big respect for Barry for how he is as a footballer, but also how he is growing as a human and a leader in this moment.”

With relegation a real and scary prospect for Sheffield Wednesday this season, talismanic Bannan will need to continue to be crucial both on and off the field to help the Owls dodge the drop.