This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk’ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Football League World's Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit, Callum Maxted, is confident the signing of Aden Flint means that missing out on the deadline day signing of another centre back will not cost the club in the League One promotion race.

Flint rejoined the Owls on loan from Stoke City until the end of the season last week, having previously had a spell on loan at Hillsborough during the 2020/21 campaign.

That previous spell in Yorkshire was cut short by injury after just four appearances, though Flint had impressed with his performances prior to that setback.

Despite the return of Flint, it seems Wednesday were keen to further strengthen the centre of their defence on Tuesday's deadline day.

The Owls were linked with a move for Celtic's Stephen Welsh on the final day of the window, although no deal ultimately materialised, with the Scottish champions reportedly deciding against loaning out the 23-year-old.

Meanwhile, another former Wednesday centre back, Michael Hector, has joined League One rivals Charlton on a deal until the end of the season, having been on trial with the Owls earlier in the month.

However, Maxted believes that the addition of Flint, means that Darren Moore's side - who are currently second in League One, four points clear of the play-offs - should have enough to get over the line in the battle for promotion.

Asked if he was concerned about the fact Wednesday did not sign a centre back on deadline day despite links with the likes of Welsh, Maxted told Football League World:

"I think that the signing of Aden Flint was important because it's put less pressure on us signing another player before the end of the window.

"I was impressed with the link with Stephen Welsh, and while I hadn't really heard of him, what I'd read I was quite impressed with.

"That would have been a good signing, and someone who could have come in and replaced McGuinnness in that sense. But we've got enough cover there to survive until the end of the season.

"In my opinion there's enough bodies there and with the experience of someone like Aden Flint who can come and have that nous about him to know the league and know how to get out of it, will be really important for the last half of the season to make sure we're in the best position we can possibly be in."

The Verdict

This is an intriguing assessment for Maxted to make on Wednesday's central defensive options.

If Flint is able to remain fit throughout his second spell at the Owls, then his past performances for the club suggest he could have a big influence in their push for promotion.

However, the fact he has played very little football for Stoke recently, and the way his previous spell with the club ended, means there may be some concerns about whether he has the fitness required to do that, especially now he is 33-year-old.

Should that be the case, then with the likes of Michael Ihiekwe and Ben Heneghan already out with injury at centre back, you wonder whether not signing another option in that position on deadline day, could leave them dangerously short in that area.