Does explanation of Osaze Urhoghide's Sheffield Wednesday absence hint at Derby County selection plan?
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Given the injury suffered by Tom Lees at Middlesbrough, many expected Owls youngster Osaze Urhoghide to make his first start in five matches in the visit of Nottingham Forest to Hillsborough on Saturday.
But Moore and his assistant Jamie Smith, standing in as the main man in the Wednesday dugout with Moore, shuffled his pack to tuck Liam Palmer into the back three from right wing-back with Callum Paterson stationed on the right.
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Hide AdSpeaking after the 0-0 draw Smith explained the call, maintaining that Paterson’s selection was based around both attacking and defensive attributes.
“It was just the way we wanted to go with the team,” he said. “That was the team we thought would go out and win the game.
“With Leesy being out injured, we put Pato out there for an extra bit of height and attacking threat.”
Though there has been little second-guessing when it comes to Wednesday selection this season, the suggestion that Paterson offers a more potent attacking threat from out wide will be of interest to Owls fans, especially given the nature of their final match of the season.
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Hide AdPaterson has played most of his football as a centre-forward in his debut Owls campaign and has offered up eight goals and four assists in a side that has routinely struggled going forward.
Wednesday’s attack never quite got going against Forest and the use of Paterson – as a wing-back, midfielder or striker – will be interesting.