Why Sheffield Wednesday's Harry Amass faces potential Bristol City nightmare | OneFootball

The Manchester United loanee is set for a stern test against the in-form Robins attack

Harry Amass became Sheffield Wednesday’s second and final signing of the summer transfer window when he joined the Owls from Manchester United.

While the rest of the Championship are likely looking forward to getting back to the action with new signings bedded in during the international break, it may be a little more uneasy on the blue side of Sheffield - as the 18-year-old loanee is due a baptism of fire as the Owls face Bristol City.

The two sides have followed divergent paths in the season’s opening four games. The Robins sit sixth on eight points, having opened the campaign with a thumping 4-1 win over Sheffield United and rounded off their pre-break fixtures with a lively 4-2 victory against Hull City.

Wednesday, meanwhile, sit second from bottom with just a single point, earned in a comeback draw at Wrexham. For a side still searching for its first win, this is a daunting return to league football.

Harry Amass set for stern test on Bristol City debut

Amass is widely expected to make his debut at left wing-back against Bristol City, given that Olaf Kobacki has been operating - and largely struggling - out of position in that role for the Owls.

Manager Henrik Pedersen, tasked with steadying a listing ship, is unlikely to have the luxury of easing the teenager in gradually.

If Robins boss Gerhard Struber sticks with his attacking shape, Amass will be thrown straight into a duel with one of the Championship’s most dangerous outlets.

Ross McCrorie, who has been one of the league’s standout performers so far, is likely to start on the right flank.

The Scotland international has already notched a goal and three assists this season, driving City's rapid transitions and overlapping relentlessly to pin opponents back.Of course, much will depend on Struber’s selection. If he opts for a wing-back pairing of McCrorie and Hirakawa rather than Sykes and McCrorie, the Scot is likely to feature on the left - which would mean Amass faces him directly.

For Amass, the match offers both a challenge and an opportunity. A solid performance would instantly endear him to supporters and settle any questions over his readiness for senior football.

Conversely, a difficult debut against a red-hot opponent could set the tone for a long and testing loan spell.

Whether the debut proves to be a nightmare or a breakthrough moment will hinge on his ability to handle the intensity of Bristol City’s wing play.

The Robins have made a habit of overwhelming opponents early, and any lapse in concentration on Wednesday’s left side could prove costly.

Wednesday’s recent history at Hillsborough has been less than encouraging.

Their most convincing performances of the campaign so far have come on the road - the narrow opening-day defeat to Leicester City and the battling point at Wrexham.

At home, defensive lapses and an inability to turn possession into goals have cost them dearly.

The Owls are now 16 games without a clean sheet in all competitions, a streak that stretches back into last season and heaps pressure on a back line already short of depth.

There are, however, reasons for cautious optimism. The addition of Amass offers a solution to a glaring weakness on the left flank, and the international break has given Pedersen valuable time to refine his tactical approach after a disrupted pre-season.

The EFL Cup victory over rivals Leeds United, achieved with a side featuring several academy graduates, was a timely reminder that there is still resilience and pride within the squad.