Danny Rohl, the manager of Sheffield Wednesday, is taking his place in the dugout before the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United at Hillsborough in Sheffield, on March 8, 2024. (Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Talented’ Blackburn Rovers man may come back to haunt Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday
Sheffield Wednesday head to Ewood Park for a crunch match in the Championship this weekend.
The last few weeks have been full of proverbial cup finals for Sheffield Wednesday.
Each game becomes more important than the last, and now, with Danny Rohl‘s side still in the bottom three, there’s three more cup finals left to play.
The first comes this Sunday where Sheffield Wednesday head to Lancashire to face Blackburn Rovers.
Rovers were one of the teams who got dragged into trouble when the Owls and the likes of QPR went on a run of form through February and March.
They made a change in manager, bringing in John Eustace who’s made Rovers much more formidable.
Blackburn have lost just two of their last eight in the Championship and now sit in 17th with a five-point gap to the bottom three.
The Owls remain in 23rd and one point adrift.
Sheffield Wednesday set to face former player against Blackburn Rovers
Sheffield Wednesday will have good memories of playing Blackburn Rovers under Rohl.
They won the reverse fixture 3-1 at Hillsborough back in December and Rohl will be hoping that his side can replicate that result on Sunday.
But one player who might be hoping to get one over the Owls is John Buckley.
The midfielder was signed on deadline day last summer when Xisco Munoz was in charge.
But it would prove to be a very tough spell for Buckley who featured 13 times in the Championship, failing to record any goal contributions.
Buckley later opened up on his time at Sheffield Wednesday, saying back in January:
“At the start, the first few weeks, it was tough, I didn’t know anything different (from Blackburn). Day-to-day things, I got on with the lads very well, Sheff Wednesday were picking up some results just before the end when I left as well which was good.
“I am back now and looking forward to cracking on. It has opened my eyes a little bit, I am really happy to be back now. I get on with everyone here and hopefully, I’ll get back on the pitch soon.”
John Buckley’s form since returning to Blackburn Rovers
Since, Buckley has returned to Blackburn and rediscovered some sort of form.
He’s now played 10 times for Rovers in the Championship this season and has earned praise from Eustace.
Upon his first game back for Blackburn in February, Eustace said of the 24-year-old:
“I thought the pace of the game kind of suited him at that point. We have got some good options there and it is very competitive for the starting XI.
“I am a huge admirer of John, a very talented footballer. He looks after the ball very well and can really get the team ticking when he is on form.
“It was a great boost to have him back after his injury. He is going to play a big part from now until the end of the season, I am sure.”
Buckley was an unused substitute for Blackburn’s last game vs Leeds.
Eustace may well fancy an unchanged line up or he may well bring a fresh Buckley into the XI, and if he plays then he’ll surely want to prove a point.
For whatever reason, Buckley and Sheffield Wednesday just seemed to meet at the wrong time.
He’s clearly a top player and someone with lots of potential still to fulfil, and back in more familiar surroundings, he’s starting to get back on his feet.
The midfield will be key on Sunday and it’s an area that has seen different personnel from a Wednesday viewpoint, with names like Barry Bannan, Will Vaulks, and Liam Palmer all sharing different roles.
Buckley being a creative player might go up against the more defensive Vaulks, who shone against Rovers in December.
