The EFL Trophy squad rules Sheffield Wednesday must follow vs Salford City as changes expected

Sheffield Wednesday will open their EFL Trophy campaign against Salford City on Tuesday night at the AIG Stadium. Following back-to-back scoreless draws, manager Henrik Pedersen has stated he intends to take the competition seriously despite having a three-week gap in league fixtures. Defender Di’Shon Bernard is poised to make his first senior appearance in 19 months, potentially playing 45 minutes.

Pedersen is expected to rotate his squad, but selection remains restricted by strict competition regulations. Under EFL Trophy rules, the club must start at least four qualifying players or face a fine of up to £5,000. Qualifying criteria include appearance thresholds, starts in adjacent fixtures, or standard loans from Category One academies.