Sheffield Wednesday star ruled out for ‘months’ in shattering blow
Sheffield Wednesday have suffered another major setback in terms of on-pitch concerns while their off-field difficulties continue to threaten their existence as a club.
Sheffield Wednesday’s disheartening summer saw a number of players leave for pastures new, while existing members of staff went three months without being paid due to controversial owner Dejphon Chansiri’s shortfalls.
Chansiri wants over £100million from a prospective buyer to sell the club, but neither a takeover nor sale has taken place as yet, and second-tier side Wednesday were recently placed under two further embargoes relating to more unpaid wages to players and staff.
Wednesday are now facing a points deduction for Chansiri’s repeated failure to pay his players and staff on time, and that is the last thing they need considering their current struggles under Henrik Pedersen.
The Owls currently sit 23rd in the Championship, with six points from their first nine games, and their hopes of keeping up in the race for survival now look to have taken yet another big setback.
Ernie Weaver facing ‘months’ out of action with ankle surgery booked in
19-year-old defender Ernie Weaver has been among many Wednesday youth players fast-tracked to their first-team this season after numerous key men departed over the summer.
He has featured nine times in all competitions up to now, with starts in each of their last five games as Owls supporters voted him as the clubs Player of the Month for September.
BBC Sheffield journalist Andy Giddings has now taken to X (7 October) to report some bad news for Wednesday, however, with Weaver due to undergo an operation on an ankle problem this week, which his sources say could rule the youngster out “for months.”
Weaver’s commitment to the Owls’ cause can certainly not be questioned, with Giddings reporting that he had been playing with the issue over recent weeks despite not being paid once again by Chansiri.
Weaver touted for a bright future with Premier League clubs eyeing up his services
Owls boss Pedersen has been left with little choice but to put his faith in numerous academy graduates this season, but he looks to have come across a real star in Weaver who may well be on his way out of the club soon as they look to raise funds.
That certainly seems unlikely to be in January, after this latest update, but it is clear that the 19-year-old has already made a big impression following some other new developments.
The Sheffield Star (2 October) have reported that “a number of” Premier League clubs are keeping a very close eye on Weaver’s progress in their first-team.
He signed his first professional contract at Hillsborough over the summer, and that is believed to include a one-year option to extend his time at the club past 2026, so there are minimal fears that he will leave on a free transfer anytime soon.
Pedersen has praised Weaver following his breakthrough into his side, saying: “how he defends and how he organises is amazing,” and it certainly seems like he will continue to be a big part of his team once he is back fit in a few months’ time.