Change needed to cope with growing squads like at Sheffield Wednesday - Alan Biggs

Here’s a case for understanding, if not outright sympathy, for those trying to crowbar a regular place at Hillsborough - with some pretty decent players among them.

There’s practically no platform to play yourself in, other than to be in the team itself and then to smash it.

Ok, I hear you on the recent Papa Johns Trophy defeat to Burton, after which came the familiar refrain of people failing to stake their claim.

I joined in myself, saying any combination of this incredibly strong League One squad should have been good enough to win, which is true - up to a point.

However, witness the way Ben Heneghan and Will Vaulks have since stepped up to the first team (both in the EFL team of the week) from that supposed flop of a team.

Tyreeq Bakinson then came in at leaders Plymouth where, amid a creditable display at 1-1, the perplexing substitutions of Barry Bannan and Josh Windass justifiably attracted scrutiny after an eventual defeat.

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Then, off the bench at Home Park, there was Dominic Iorfa and Callum Paterson from that Burton game.

It was scant preparation as individuals unused to playing with many of those around them fell short. Against a team from the same division, albeit struggling, who had the advantage of familiarity with each other.

Tellingly, the one positive to come out of it on the night was the very much individual showing of Mallik Wilks, for example.

Think of goalkeeper Cameron Dawson, though. He concedes three goals (not seen him blamed for any) and his only outings thus far are coming with a second string in front of him.

MORE: Wednesday sweat over latest injury concern injury as Mallik Wilks’ absence is explained

Which leads me to my soapbox, pleading for a return of some kind of competitive reserve team senior football, as per the old Central League. The Papa Johns is an inadequate filler for that when players need to stay sharp or build up their fitness after injury.

Again, put the violins away. I eavesdropped an illuminating post-match interview recently in which Barnsley’s Michael Duff, the only visiting manager to win at Hillsborough in the league this season, was skilfully questioned by national paper freelance Liz Byrnes.

Duff, doing brilliantly with an unfancied club, said it was in the nature of players to always look for excuses. It was his mission to give them none whatsoever and to demand “no egos.”

Moore is relying on the same from players of much higher profile, while setting an example in that he seems markedly without ego himself.

But there is justification for some empathy with the team of essentially first team “reserves” Wednesday are carrying and Moore is perhaps over conscious of evolving frameworks to accommodate them.

It’s just that the structure of the game itself is not helping them as much as it could and should.