Forget Josh Windass, Sheffield Wednesday’s biggest error this summer was letting creative leader go

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Thanks to Dejphon Chansiri, some top talent has left Sheffield Wednesday this summer. But, while Josh Windass steals the headlines at Wrexham, it’s actually his former colleague who’s got the Owls kicking themselves.

A summer of turmoil for Sheffield Wednesday saw the likes of Josh Windass, Djeidi Gassama, and Michael Smith all depart.

The Owls also lost manager Danny Rohl in bizarre circumstances. However, his replacement Henrik Pedersen is doing a pretty good job, all things considered.

While Barry Bannan is doing his best to keep the club afloat, a threadbare squad still faces the distinct possibility of relegation this season. Sadly, one man who could help them left months ago.

• READ MORE: Barry Bannan explains demand for Dejphon Chansiri amid Sheffield Wednesday crisis

Callum Paterson is excelling at MK Dons

Of all the incomings and outgoings at Sheffield Wednesday over the summer, it’s the exit of Callum Paterson that will sting the most now.

When his contract expired, the experienced forward left the club. He was back not long after on a trial basis, and while everyone expected him to re-sign for the Owls, it never happened.

Instead, Paterson joined MK Dons, dropping down two divisions in the process. Turns out, that was a pretty good move for the 30-year-old.

Paterson took his tally for the season to three goals and four assists over the weekend, setting up MK Dons’ goal in a 1-1 draw with Chesterfield.

He is now the top assist provider in the entire EFL, and only Jack Grealish can match him in the 92 team footballing ladder in England.

Suffice it to say, Sheffield Wednesday sure could use those kinds of numbers right now.

• READ MORE: Dejphon Chansiri at £40m Sheffield Wednesday crossroads as one-week deadline looms

Sheffield Wednesday lack gamechangers on the bench

While Harry Amass is shining on loan, and young George Brown bagged his first Sheffield Wednesday goal at the weekend, there are still lots of issues at the club.

The 2-0 win over Portsmouth was a massive step in the right direction for Wednesday. But, you get the feeling the lack of squad depth will hurt Henrik Pedersen eventually.

He’s having to name the same players on the bench week in, week out. Many of them are incredibly young and inexperienced, and cannot be relied upon to change a game.

That’s all well and good when you’re two-up and dominating. But you would assume that will be a rarity for Sheffield Wednesday this season.

Callum Paterson may not have been the flashiest or most technical player, but one thing he was capable of was changing games from the bench. He was someone the Owls could always depend upon to enter the fray, get stuck in, and pop up with valuable goals.

It’s an almost priceless quality in many ways, and not having someone of that ilk could well be the difference between survival and relegation for Sheffield Wednesday.