Momo Diaby joins Owls on loan
The Owls have made our ninth signing of the summer in the shape of Frenchman Momo Diaby.
The towering midfielder joins Wednesday on a season-long loan from Portuguese Primeira side Portimonense SC.
Diaby has spent his professional career to date in Portugal, including four seasons at Pacos Ferreira and more recently Portimonense SC, whom he
joined in the summer of 2022.
The 26-year-old links up with a familiar face at Hillsborough having played at Pacos Ferreira with fellow new Owls recruit Jaun Delgado.
Diaby told swfc.co.uk: “I know Juan, I have played with him before. Before I came I spoke with him and he told me great things about the club.
“I am very happy and I hope we have a good season. I am here to help the team.
“As soon as I heard, it was clear I wanted to come to Sheffield Wednesday and I am very happy because I will finally play in England, it has always been a dream.
“I can’t wait, I have heard a lot of good things about the fans and I want to tell them that me and the rest of the team will do our best to make them happy.”
Diaby has been allocated shirt number 44 for the duration of his S6 stay.
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Hull City host Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday afternoon in an eagerly-anticipated Yorkshire derby at the MKM Stadium, looking to bounce back after successive defeats to start the new season.
City were beaten in controversial fashion at Norwich last Saturday before being dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Wednesday’s South Yorkshire neighbours Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday evening.
Liam Rosenior has promised a response from his side in their first home outing of the new campaign in front of a bumper crowd, and standing in their way will be the Owls, managed by ex-Watford supremo Xisco Munoz.
To get the lowdown on this weekend’s visitors, Hull Live spoke to Yorkshire Live’s Owls reporter Ricky Charlesworth.
READ MORE: Hull City boss makes plea to supporters ahead of crunch Sheffield Wednesday derby
How would you assess Wednesday’s two games so far this season?
It’s been an iffy start. Openers don’t come much tougher than Southampton right now and with the likes of Ward-Prowse and Tella looking for a fast start, they actually did well to contain the Saints after conceding early. That was a tough test and hard to judge them given Saints will surely be aiming for an immediate promotion.
Similarly, against Stockport Xisco Munoz made wholesale changes and all 8 summer signings started. Teething problems were inevitable and they only just got out of jail against a team two divisions lower.
That being said, there’s been glimpses of what they want to do but this is the game where Wednesdayites really want to start seeing things click.
What’s the realistic aim this term – and what impact has all the turbulence with Moore/Chansiri/Munoz had?
Pretty much every Wednesdayite would snatch your hand off if you offered them survival right now. I certainly would. As you say, all the off-field stuff lingered for far too long and they took an age to get the much-needed recruitment drive going. Having signed so many players, especially those from abroad, and expecting them to adapt to new surroundings and a new style was always going to be a tough ask but the hope is that they can gel sooner rather than later. Give me a comfortable end to the campaign with survival clinched by mid-April.
How are the Owls likely to set up?
Good question. They’ll almost certainly play with four at the back but then it’s a question of the other parts. He’s played 4-3-3, 4-4-2 and 4-1-4-1 so it remains to be seen.
Who’s the dangerman to look out for?
The new signings are still a bit of an unknown quantity but of the lot Anthony Musaba has shown potential in fits and bursts. He’s got electric pace but needs to marry that with an end product.
As ever, Barry Bannan still pulls the strings although his role has varied slightly under Munoz. On his day he’s still capable of picking out passes that few others can at this level.
How has Mallik Wilks done since going to Wednesday?
Not great. Considering the Owls chased him for a large portion of last summer, his return has been below-par. He’s only started five league games in a year and hasn’t made a competitive outing since April. He could miss out here with a muscle-related injury. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he’s sold or loaned out before the window shuts. Just hasn’t worked out for him.
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