Sheffield Wednesday may have fresh double Dejphon Chansiri fear after Portsmouth victory | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday supporters will be worried that Ernie Weaver and George Brown could be sold by owner Dejphon Chansiri in January.

After months of off-field turmoil, there was a rare moment of positivity for Sheffield Wednesday supporters on Saturday as their side secured a surprise 2-0 victory at Portsmouth.

It is fair to say it was a nightmare summer for Wednesday, and with ownership and financial problems resulting in the departure of a host of key players, manager Henrik Pedersen has been left with a threadbare squad.

After bringing in goalkeeper Ethan Horvath and defender Harry Amass on loan, Pedersen was keen to strengthen his squad even further before the end of the window, but the EFL prevented the Owls from completing any other deals, and the imposition of two fresh transfer embargoes last week has effectively ended any hope of free agents arriving in the coming weeks.

Given the troubles Wednesday have experienced in recent months, they are widely expected to be relegated from the Championship this season, and they picked up just one point from their first five league games, as well as being knocked out of the EFL Cup by League Two side Grimsby Town.

However, just as supporters were beginning to lose hope after their demoralising start to the season, the Owls produced an outstanding performance to record their first win of the campaign at Fratton Park on Saturday, and two brave selection calls from Pedersen made all the difference.

Henrik Pedersen was rewarded for bold Ernie Weaver and George Brown calls against Portsmouth

One of the few positives for Wednesday this season has been the emergence of some of the club's academy products in the first team squad, and defender Ernie Weaver has certainly caught the eye in the early weeks of the campaign.

After some impressive performances in the EFL Cup, most notably in the shock second round victory over Premier League side Leeds United last month, Weaver was handed his first Championship start by Pedersen against Portsmouth.

It was a risky move from Pedersen to throw Weaver into the team against a Pompey side who have been incredibly strong at Fratton Park of late, but the 18-year-old put in an assured display at the heart of the back three, and the 14 clearances he made were the most of any player on the pitch, while he also blocked two shots as he helped his side to a well-deserved clean sheet.

Weaver was not the only unexpected name on the teamsheet, with Pedersen also opting to include striker George Brown in the starting line-up alongside Bailey Cadamarteri, ahead of more experienced options such as Jamal Lowe, Ike Ugbo and Charlie McNeill.

While supporters had been calling for Weaver to get a chance in the Championship, Pedersen's decision to start Brown raised a few eyebrows, particularly as he had not even featured as a substitute in the first five league games.

However, Brown fully repaid his manager's faith as he netted the Owls' second goal of the game after smartly playing on to fire home despite Portsmouth defender Conor Shaughnessy pulling up with a hamstring injury earlier in the move.

Ernie Weaver and George Brown breakthrough will cause Sheffield Wednesday, Dejphon Chansiri concern

In normal circumstances, academy graduates starring in the first team would be a cause for celebration, but these are certainly not normal circumstances at Wednesday, and the emergence of talented young players will create fresh concerns amid their ongoing off-field issues.

In a desperate attempt to raise funds in the summer, Chansiri sold star wingers Anthony Musaba and Djeidi Gassama to Samsunspor and Rangers respectively for a combined total of just £3 million, which is significantly below their market value.

Despite receiving offers for goalkeeper Pierce Charles and striker Bailey Cadamarteri, Chansiri decided against cashing in on any more of the club's prized assets in the summer, but that stance will not necessarily remain the same when the January transfer window opens.

With Chansiri only believed to have the funds to pay September's wages, he is currently searching for investment to help him get through the season, and according to journalist Alan Nixon, the under-fire Owls chief is planning to sell Charles for £4 million in January.

If Weaver and Brown continue their developments over the coming months, it seems likely they will also be on the radar of other clubs in January, and if Chansiri is still in need of cash, there is every chance that, like Musaba and Gassama, they could be sold for a cut-price fee.

Of course, Wednesday supporters will be hopeful that a takeover will be completed before January or that Chansiri will have the club taken off him long before the window opens, but with his tenure looking likely to continue for a while longer, they may need to prepare for the possibility of further departures in the winter window.