David Bardsley believes Sheffield Wednesday have a ‘group of players that are really comfortable’ at League One, with the Owls sitting second in the table.
Wednesday fans have had a breath of fresh air this season after enduring a torrid campaign in the Championship.
Only Yorkshire rivals Bradford City sit ahead of them – and with postponed fixtures due to the international break, it means that Henrik Pedersen’s men will get a full reset before going again in mid-October.
Given the slow start endured by supposed fellow challengers Leicester City, it now means that the Owls are the favourites to win the league.
And former EFL stalwart Phil Bardsley has echoed similar thoughts, stating that the Owls are a club who deserve to be in the Championship at the very minimum.
Sheffield Wednesday will be there or thereabouts
Speaking to Lyllo Casino, Bardsley claimed that the Owls are starting to look ‘really comfortable’ at third-tier level despite squad restrictions – and that will see them over the line.
The ex-Burnley stalwart said: “I think they’ve got a group of players at Sheffield Wednesday that are really comfortable at that level.
“Obviously, they’ve been restricted with improving the squad, which is really difficult when you go up to the Championship because you need recruitment and players that have played at that level.
“I think they’ve got a group of players that are so strong in League One, and come the end of the season, they’ll be there or thereabouts.
“I’m delighted there looks to be a bit of luck back there now at the stadium with the fans and that connection with the team.
“I like Wednesday, it’s just got a great family feel to the club, obviously a great rivalry with Sheffield United, and it’s just an old traditional English football club that I hope has a successful year.”
Wednesday can lead the pack throughout the campaign
It’s hard to look past Wednesday being the favourites, especially with Leicester starting slowly out of the blocks.
Bradford look as though they’re giving the season another good go, and a League One Yorkshire double could well be in store.
There will be other challengers, with Plymouth Argyle going strong and Reading looking to end their League One nightmare, but those huge crowds making Hillsborough roar could make a difference.
Wednesday fans will be hoping that if they do go up, another Championship campaign won’t quite be as disastrous as the last one, where they finished on zero points after a 21-point deduction which was only nullified with a final-day win over West Bromwich Albion.
