Danny Rohl can surprise us all at 7pm by handing start to ‘very dangerous’ Sheffield Wednesday ace vs Sunderland

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All eyes will be on Championship action tonight as Sheffield Wednesday host Sunderland, and we think Danny Rohl will have some surprises in his team selection.

Both sides go into the game needing a win after a poor run of results. Indeed, both Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland lost their games last weekend in the Championship.

Pundits claim the Owls are now out of the play-offs race, while Sunderland have been told they have no hope of achieving automatic promotion this season.

Suffice to say, both teams want to prove people wrong on Friday night and offer up a signal of intent for other teams in action this weekend.

With so much at stake, getting team selection and tactics spot on will be crucial here, and we believe Wednesday will have some interesting changes in their lineup.

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Injuries and illness could open the door for Ryo Hatsuse

Danny Rohl likes to tweak his team game to game, though not usually en masse. His hand could be forced this time, though, with some lingering injuries and illnesses permeating through the Sheffield Wednesday squad this week.

In his latest press conference (via Twitter/X), Rohl said: “I won’t go into the names with injuries. But for us this has been a tough week and tomorrow you will see why. We have some question marks.”

While we wait to see who has been affected exactly, one name we can’t help but feel could and should be given his time to shine is new signing, Ryo Hatsuse.

He’s a player Rohl described as ‘very dangerous’ and as having a ‘fantastic mindset’; two things we know the Owls boss loves to see in his players.

The versatile Japanese star joined Wednesday on a free transfer in January, and is most likely to come in at left wing-back, replacing Marvin Johnson, for this game against Sunderland.

Hatsuse got 12 minutes under his belt against Burnley last weekend, but is clearly ready for more. And, with his pace, tenacity, and drive to get forward, he could be a real asset down the left for Wednesday as he comes up against a severely fatigued Patrick Roberts.

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Home advantage and Sunderland injuries may deliver Owls win

It’s a tricky game to predict, this one, as both teams are in bad form but will be increasingly hungry to put a stop to the rot.

Sheffield Wednesday playing in front of a home crowd, under the lights on a Friday night, has potential to create a rip-roaring atmosphere, and there’s no doubt that will carry the Owls.

Plus, while Wednesday have their own mystery absentees to deal with, Sunderland will be without key men Enzo Le Fee and Dan Ballard, which is a massive blow for the Black Cats.

Throw in the fact Rohl needs to get revenge for a 4-0 drubbing at the Stadium of Light back in August, and you’ve got a perfect recipe for a home win tonight. It would be a huge boost for Wednesday’s play-off hopes if they can pull it off, but we’re sure Sunderland will have a thing or two to say about that.