Despite being sent off in Sunday’s matc away to Leicester City, Barry Bannan will still be eligible for Sheffield Wednesday’s upcoming league game against Stoke City at Hillsborough on Saturday.
Bannan was dismissed by referee Matt Donohue in the 76th minute after collecting two yellow cards in just five minutes during the second half.
The Sheffield Wednesday skipper departed the pitch on Sunday with his team clinging to a valuable draw against promotion favourites Leicester, but the Owls were unable to hold on as Wout Faes headed in the winner to send them back to Yorkshire without any points.
However, under EFL regulations, the Scotsman will serve his single-match ban on Wednesday evening when the Owls visit the Toughsheet Community Stadium to face Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup’s First Round.
The South Yorkshire outfit confirmed via Instagram: “Barry Bannan will not travel for the Owls’ trip to Bolton on Wednesday night, with our captain serving a one-match ban.”
The club also noted that Bannan “will be back in contention for our home fixture with Stoke on Saturday”.
EFL rules allow the Scotsman to serve his one-game suspension in the EFL Cup, as the competition is also organised by the EFL.
As a result, Bannan’s suspension will be complete after Wednesday’s fixture and he can feature for Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday afternoon.
Plenty of Wednesday fans would agree that staying in the league is the absolute priority right now, especially with the threat of a possible points deduction hanging over them.
If the Owls are to beat the drop and stay in the Championship, Bannan will be central to their survival push.
His single-game ban ensures the 35-year-old will be fresh for Saturday’s meeting with Stoke City.
While an EFL Cup run would be a welcome reward for Wednesday supporters after a turbulent summer, securing Championship points takes precedence.
Bannan will be fully rested ahead of Saturday’s kick-off, and some of Wednesday’s younger players will have the opportunity to gain minutes in a season when the whole squad will be needed.
There is no questioning Bannan’s value to this Sheffield Wednesday team, particularly given their current situation.
Bannan has been a constant presence in the Owls’ senior side since arriving from Crystal Palace in 2015.
The 35-year-old has surpassed 400 matches for the South Yorkshire club and has played over 30 games in each of his ten campaigns with them.
In eight of those seasons, he has featured at least 45 times for Wednesday across all competitions.
His reliability has been immense for the Owls, but with his 36th birthday approaching, careful management is essential.
If Bannan can make more than 40 appearances this season, Sheffield Wednesday will give themselves the best chance of avoiding the drop.
The Scotsman’s suspension and Nathaniel Chalobah’s injury against Leicester City will require Henrik Pedersen to adjust his midfield options.
Sean Fusire is expected to earn his first start of the campaign, having replaced Chalobah in the 32nd minute during Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at the King Power Stadium.
Pedersen may also award a first start this season to youngster Rio Shipston, as well as a senior debut to under-21 captain Jarvis Thornton.
Svante Ingelsson could keep his place from Sunday’s loss, but Pedersen might opt for a youthful trio of Fusire, Shipston, and Thornton considering the squad’s limited size.
