There are fears that Sheffield Wednesday midfielder John Buckley could be spending a long spell on the sidelines having gone off injured in their Championship clash with Queens Park Rangers.
Wednesday secured a significant last-minute victory, but the celebratory mood was dampened by injuries to Buckley, Diaby, and Patterson. While the full extent of their injuries remains uncertain, there is a prevailing concern that Buckley may be the most severely affected.
Buckley, who had only entered the game 15 minutes before his injury, poses a potential setback for Danny Röhl, with the prospect of being without a key midfielder for an extended period. Despite limited playing time this season, starting in just five games, the 24-year-old has served as crucial backup at times.
The timing of Buckley’s injury is unfortunate, occurring during a crucial phase of Wednesday’s season, and with a demanding Christmas fixture schedule approaching, he likely would have played a more significant role due to rotation.
Röhl now faces a challenge with diminishing squad numbers, but despite this, Wednesday has been enjoying a positive spell of form lately. Despite their 23rd place position and a six-point gap from safety, they have won three of their last four matches, including a recent victory against fellow relegation-threatened side QPR, who are now only four points ahead.
However, the upcoming three games within a seven-day span from December 23rd to 29th may test Wednesday’s form due to the ongoing injury concerns.
When asked about the injuries suffered against QPR, Röhl provided a concise update to The Star, stating, “At the moment I have no news, but you can ask me next week. Maybe I’ll have some information then, and hopefully the injuries are not too big because we need everybody. It’s about finding solutions, but today we’ll enjoy the win and cross my fingers for my injured players and go into next week.”
While Röhl did not specify the nature of Buckley’s injury, the Lancashire Telegraph indicated that the Blackburn loanee is likely to face an extended period on the sidelines. Although an official update from the manager is expected, early reports suggest a less optimistic outlook for the 24-year-old.
