Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl has said the future of Shea Charles should be clear very soon.
Charles joined the Owls on loan from Premier League side Southampton in the summer window. The Northern Ireland international has been impressive for Rohl’s side, leading to suggestions he could return to struggling Southampton to help with their survival chances.
Neither side has given much away since the start of the January transfer window, resulting in much talk about where Charles will be at the end of this window.
“It’s not far away!” Says Rohl
Speaking to The Star during his pre-match press conference, Rohl did his best to not give much away.
When pressed for more information about the future of Charles and any potential deadline for the Saints, Rohl said:
“There is always a deadline. There is a point where the clubs can do something, but when it is, let’s see! When it is over, I can tell you when it is safe, but until then I will not speak about this date.”
When asked for more information on the exact deadline, Rohl replied: “It’s not far away!”
How Has Charles Played This Season?
Since joining the Owls, Charles has been crucial to the success Rohl has been able to produce. The midfielder’s high-level performances have been recognised by Sofascore, who’s given him an average league rating of 7.25. This is the highest of any Sheffield Wednesday player and 9th highest in the Championship altogether.
Charles has played and started 23 games this season in the league for the Owls, averaging 87 minutes per game. He played a more defensive role at the start of the season, although he has moved to a box-to-box midfielder in recent weeks, with Nathaniel Chalobah playing defensive midfield.
Charles has contributed with four assists and one goal for the Owls. His one and only goal was the game-winner in their 2-1 victory away at Coventry City.
How Big of a Miss Would Charles Be for the Owls? – Opinion
Charles would be a big miss for the Owls if he were to return to Southampton during this window. He’s been a pivotal part of the Wednesday side since joining.
By playing a more defensive role, he’s allowed Barry Bannan to be more creative and lead the attack for the Owls. Charles has contributed this season with 1.5 interceptions per game, 3.3 tackles per game, and 1.3 clearances per game. Crucially, Charles has 5.9 balls recovered per game – showing his ability to win the ball back and help start attacks.
As Charles has been given more freedom to venture forward for the Owls in recent weeks, he’s shown his attacking ability. He’s averaged 1.3 key passes per game and has a high average passing accuracy of 81%.
While the return of Charles might benefit Southampton, it could derail any play-off hopes for Sheffield Wednesday.