Sheffield Wednesday are making progress on a backroom reshuffle as Jack Newbery departs and a new first team performance analyst nears appointment. The changes come as the club sits second in League One on 14 points, one point behind leaders Bradford.

Jack Newbery has left his post as head of academy sport science after nearly four years at Middlewood Road. His last day passed earlier this month. Newbery has moved on to join Kitman Labs, a Dublin-based sports science firm that works with Premier League, NFL and NBA teams.

Manager Henrik Pedersen indicated the club was considering adding a new analyst around the time assistant coach Matt Hamshaw was appointed. "The club were considering the move, which will see a new ‘first team performance analyst’ join a team led by Richard Stirrup," Pedersen said. Applications for the role closed on September 20. The job advertisement called for someone to deliver insight-led video and data analysis to enhance the game model and provide intelligence on upcoming opposition.

Saido Berahino's international role

Former Sheffield Wednesday striker Saido Berahino has taken up an assistant coaching role with Burundi. The 33-year-old reported for duty during the international break but missed Burundi's recent 1-0 loss to Togo due to injury. Berahino scored nine goals in one League One season at Hillsborough under Darren Moore before spells in Cyprus, India and Slovenia. Current Sheffield Wednesday player Jordi Liongola is a Burundi international and is likely to join Berahino in future squads. Burundi face Algeria in an AFCON qualifier on Tuesday evening.

Hillsborough developments

Work continues at Hillsborough during the break, with major progress on a new ground floor media room and suite. The facility is expected to open after the international break and is understood to meet Premier League standards. Cosmetic upgrades to player areas, including the changing room and tunnel, have also been accelerated with no matches scheduled. Past media facilities at the stadium have faced criticism, including a national media piece in 2023 that highlighted a lack of investment.

Sheffield Wednesday's recent form shows three wins and two draws from their last five games, keeping them firmly in the automatic promotion hunt. Top scorer Jamal Lowe has four goals this season, including a penalty in the last match, a 2-1 win at Salford City. The club's next fixture is at home to Cambridge United, who are fifth, on October 3. Fans can check the full upcoming schedule on the fixtures page and view the current standings.

First reported at thestar.co.uk