Sheffield Wednesday players are settling into life under new boss Dave Challinor. It’s a fresh start, and some could blossom under the new manager.

The Owls welcomed several new players this summer as they worked to rebuild a squad torn apart by last season’s financial issues. Some have settled into life at Hillsborough well, while others have struggled with injuries and lack of form.

Speaking in his press conference, Challinor outlined the style of play he wants to see from his Wednesday side:

“I want us to be possession-based but purposeful in that. I want us to play forward and be aggressive with and without the ball and play with good ball speed.

“I want to make the team we play against defend from their box.”

With that message shared with the fanbase and likely explained in more detail to his new set of players, we’ve picked out three players who will likely benefit from playing under Challinor at Sheffield Wednesday.

1. Louie Barry

We will start with an obvious one. Louie Barry has a great relationship with Challinor, with the manager getting the best out of him at Stockport County.

Before Barry picked up his injury, he was starting to find his goalscoring boots. He scored three goals in four games, as well as picking up one assist. The former Aston Villa man had an average Sofascore rating of 7.65.

Under DC, Barry is likely to play narrow left, either in the two off the striker or alongside the striker. The big thing is getting him back from his injury, and based on the images shared by the club, that could be soon.

Getting closer! 😍 pic.twitter.com/kAxdsZVTV4

— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) November 4, 2026

2. Yan Valery

Right back Yan Valery hasn’t been at his very best since the start of the season, but the change in manager could be a turning point for him.

He’s been asked to play as a right back in most games, but on Sunday he played right wingback, a position he is often most effective in. Valery offers a great outlet on the right and is great at carrying the ball and creating chances.

Challinor is known for playing five at the back, which suggests Valery might be used as a wingback rather than a fullback. If that ends up being the case, Wednesday fans could start seeing the best of him again.

3. Liam Cooper

Another who likely benefits from the change in manager, especially because of the potential formation change, is Liam Cooper. The experienced defender will likely move to the middle centre-back spot, allowing him to take charge of the backline.

Either side of him is likely to be Di’Shon Bernard and Sil Swinkels. Those two can take the passing pressure off Cooper, allowing him to do what he does best: defend.

Managing his minutes will be key, so expect some rotation with Ricardo Santos and Ernie Weaver, but Cooper will likely shine in this new formation.