Sheffield Wednesday will be out to pick up three points on Good Friday as they face Stoke City later this afternoon.
Sheffield Wednesday enter their first Easter weekend fixture hoping to regain Championship form. SWFC is winless in five games, drawing two and losing three.
The Owls are 14th in the Championship standings and are almost certain to finish in the middle. They are 11 points above the drop zone and 10 points below the play-offs, so while relegation and promotion are not theoretically impossible, they are extremely unlikely.
Danny Rohl’s squad lost 1-0 at home to Oxford United the last time around. Wednesday was undone by a Sam Long goal with just over ten minutes left.
Stoke City enters the Sheffield Wednesday game still fighting for safety. Stronger form has enhanced their chances, with a late win over Cardiff City last time out sending the Potters five points clear of the bottom three.
Sheffield Wednesday team news
When speaking to the press earlier this week, Owls manager Rohl highlighted three uncertainties for the Good Friday encounter.
Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan missed the loss to Oxford United and is a doubt for today’s encounter as well. Rohl acknowledged the club legend’s desire to play, but a late test will determine whether he can participate.
Michael Ihiekwe and Anthony Musaba’s availability is unknown. The center-back and winger began against the U’s, and Ihiekwe played the entire 90 minutes, but both may be absent here.
Akin Famewo and Yan Valery recently made successful returns to the SWFC starting lineup.
Predicted XI
(4-2-3-1)
Charles; Valery, Iorfa, Famewo, Hatsuse; Charles, Ingelsson; Gassama, Windass, Cissoko; Ugbo.
Sheffield Wednesday are in a risk-free position in the Championship table, so rotation seems likely in the final few games of the season.
Dominic Iorfa may replace Ihiekwe, while Ryo Hatsuse receives a starting spot in place of Marvin Johnson. A fit Bannan starts in midfield, although worries about his availability may lead to Svante Ingelsson partnering Shea Charles instead of Stuart Armstrong.
In place of Musaba, SWFC loan man Ibrahim Cissoko could get a starting XI opportunity.
At the top of the pitch, Ike Ugbo might get a chance to score his long-awaited first goal of the season from the off. Michael Smith, Charlie McNeill, Jamal Lowe and Callum Paterson are all options too though.
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