Davis Keillor-Dunn signs: Sheffield Wednesday's dream XI to face Leyton Orient on L1 opening day | OneFootball

Davis Keillor-Dunn signs: Sheffield Wednesday's dream XI to face Leyton Orient on L1 opening day | OneFootball

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·12 de julio de 2026

Davis Keillor-Dunn signs: Sheffield Wednesday's dream XI to face Leyton Orient on L1 opening day

Imagen del artículo:Davis Keillor-Dunn signs: Sheffield Wednesday's dream XI to face Leyton Orient on L1 opening day

FLW takes a look at an ideal starting eleven for Sheffield Wednesday on opening day against Leyton Orient

A new era is dawning at Sheffield Wednesday, with the first full season under the new Arise ownership kicking off next month.


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The Owls begin life back in League One on August 15 when they travel to Leyton Orient, and the optimism surrounding the new campaign is palpable amongst Wednesday fans.

Henrik Pedersen's side have already been incredibly busy in the transfer window this summer, and the incomings are still expected to continue all the way to the trip to Brisbane Road and beyond to the deadline on September 1.

So, with that in mind, here's an ideal starting eleven for the curtain-raiser against Leyton Orient in mid-August.

GK - Filip Marschall

Imagen del artículo:Davis Keillor-Dunn signs: Sheffield Wednesday's dream XI to face Leyton Orient on L1 opening day

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Pierce Charles is heading back to Manchester City this summer, and while the most ideal scenario would see the Citizens loan the Northern Irishman back to Hillsborough, the likelihood is that the Championship will be in the 20-year-old's near future, perhaps at QPR.

So, Wednesday will need a new shot-stopper, and off the back of links in late June with Stevenage keeper Filip Marschall, the departure of Charles should see the Owls pursue the 23-year-old more keenly.

Marschall kept 19 clean sheets last season for a defensively solid Boro side, and still has plenty of room to grow and get better; a potential he could definitely realise at Sheffield Wednesday.

CB - Gabriel Otegbayo

Imagen del artículo:Davis Keillor-Dunn signs: Sheffield Wednesday's dream XI to face Leyton Orient on L1 opening day

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Keeping with a similar back three system that Henrik Pedersen used last season, Gabriel Otegbayo is an example of someone who benefited from the threadbare squad that Wednesday had to operate with.

The 21-year-old Irishman played 38 times in all competitions last season, compared to 15 in his debut campaign at Hillsborough, and despite the defensive issues that the Owls had in the Championship, he could easily kick on in League One.

Otegbayo was one of the first names on the team sheet in the latter half of the campaign, and should be given a chance from the off in the upcoming term, with Di'Shon Bernard being integrated into the side as the season goes on, with him recovering from a season-long injury.

CB - Ricardo Santos

Imagen del artículo:Davis Keillor-Dunn signs: Sheffield Wednesday's dream XI to face Leyton Orient on L1 opening day

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Ricardo Santos was the first of many arrivals at Sheffield Wednesday this summer, and with his experience at the top end of the third tier, it's understandable why the Owls moved quickly for the 31-year-old.

Santos has 189 League One appearances under his belt and, while at Bolton Wanderers, was a key feature in their consecutive play-off campaigns under Ian Evatt.

His time at Swansea City last season did not work out at all, and after one appearance in the Championship in South Wales, he'll be keen to make up for lost time at Hillsborough.

CB - Sil Swinkels

Imagen del artículo:Davis Keillor-Dunn signs: Sheffield Wednesday's dream XI to face Leyton Orient on L1 opening day

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With Santos providing the experience in the backline, having two young centre-backs with plenty of potential either side of him could be a recipe for success, and former Aston Villa youngster Sil Swinkels should definitely be someone Henrik Pedersen considers for now, rather than the future.

The towering Dutchman had a brilliant loan spell at Chesterfield in the latter half of last season in League Two, and that should indicate he's ready to make that step up to being a third-tier centre-back.

He'll have a lot to prove after his loan spell with Exeter City in this division fell flat before he was relocated, and that hunger will be helpful for Wednesday.

RWB - Jordi Liongola

Imagen del artículo:Davis Keillor-Dunn signs: Sheffield Wednesday's dream XI to face Leyton Orient on L1 opening day

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Jordi Liongola is the attacking full-back that Henrik Pedersen needs in his system, and he managed to cope with the step up the Belgian tiers with former club RAAL, where he won consecutive promotions to the top flight.

Last season, he registered a couple of goals and eight assists in the Pro League, too, so for a League One side to sign him is a major coup, and Wednesday fans should look forward to him bombing down the right side throughout next season.

LWB - Max Lowe

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With a couple of young centre-backs and an attacking full-back on the opposite flank, having someone like Max Lowe, who is a little more defensive-minded, could be a big help for Henrik Pedersen in the upcoming season.

Lowe has experience playing on the left, despite playing primarily as a centre-back throughout his couple of years at Hillsborough.

Plus, his experience at the top end of the Championship and even the Premier League should mean that he'll be levels above League One and will have to be one of the regular starters because of that.

CM - Barry Bannan

Imagen del artículo:Davis Keillor-Dunn signs: Sheffield Wednesday's dream XI to face Leyton Orient on L1 opening day

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Sheffield Wednesday, just six months on from leaving for Millwall amidst uncertainty surrounding the Owls' ongoing takeover.

The Wednesday legend spent ten-and-a-half years at Hillsborough before his departure, and captained the side in their last League One promotion-winning campaign. He'll definitely be wanting to replicate that before he retires, and could be in with a shout of doing just that.

We've seen in recent years how Oliver Norwood has been able to conduct a midfield competing at the top of the division despite being in the twilight years of his career, so there's no doubt that the 36-year-old Scot will be amongst the best in his position next season.

CM - Callum Slattery

Imagen del artículo:Davis Keillor-Dunn signs: Sheffield Wednesday's dream XI to face Leyton Orient on L1 opening day

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More central midfielders will no doubt arrive at Hillsborough between now and the opening day, but like with Ricardo Santos, Sheffield Wednesday made sure that they got an immediate starter from the off.

Callum Slattery was not short of suitors when his contract with Motherwell came to an end in June, both in League One and Scotland, but Wednesday were able to secure his signature.

At 27, he's heading into his prime years and is coming off the back of a campaign where he netted three and assisted a further eight in the SPL - the most goal contributions he's mustered in a single league season in his career.

CAM - Louie Barry

Imagen del artículo:Davis Keillor-Dunn signs: Sheffield Wednesday's dream XI to face Leyton Orient on L1 opening day

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The first man playing just off the striker is Louie Barry, who, like Bannan, is closing in on signing for Wednesday as of writing.

The 23-year-old has proven that, when fit and firing in the right environment, he can be one of the best players in the entire division. His 15 goals in just 23 games at Stockport County two seasons ago before he was recalled proved that.

Barry has struggled with injury and selection in loan deals since, but there's no doubt that he's a Championship-standard player if given the opportunity, so Wednesday will have a player on their hands if they can get the best out of him.

CAM - Davis Keillor-Dunn

Imagen del artículo:Davis Keillor-Dunn signs: Sheffield Wednesday's dream XI to face Leyton Orient on L1 opening day

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Next to Barry is another premier goalscorer at League One level. Davis Keillor-Dunn netted 31 times in 66 games across 18 months with Barnsley before his January move to Wrexham.

It was a deserved step up to the Championship, but the 28-year-old played just 81 minutes across six games in the second tier throughout the second half of the campaign in North Wales.

Leicester City, have put their name in the hat. If it's a loan deal, then Henrik Pedersen's side need to be all over it.

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