Sheffield Wednesday take their shortest trip of the season on Saturday lunchtime as they travel north for the South Yorkshire derby against Barnsley.
The main topic of conversation in the build up to the game has surrounded Barnsley striker Chris O' Grady (COG).
The striker, who divided opinion amongst the Hillsborough faithful, was sold to their near neighbours last summer after a loan spell at Oakwell. He has 7 goals for the Tykes this season, only 3 players have scored more Championship goals. Wednesday meanwhile have scored just 11 league goals in total with no player having scored more than 2.
Wednesday will be without central midfield duo David Prutton and Jose Semedo for the crunch televised clash. Prutton is injured and Semedo starts a 3-match suspension. Long term injury victim Anthony Gardner is Wednesday's only other absentee. Striker Matt Fryatt will be involved for the last game of his current loan spell from Hull City.
Dave Jones must choose whether to bring in Rhys McCabe or Liam Palmer to replace Semedo or recall either Atdhe Nuhiu or Jermaine Johnson in a more attacking line up.
Barnsley are without first choice goalkeeper Luke Steele due to injury but have brought in one time Wednesday target Jack Butland on loan in his place. Defenders Lewin Nyatanga and Peter Ramage are also set to miss the match as a result of injuries.
David Flitcroft's side picked up their second victory of the season by beating Middlesbrough at Oakwell last weekend and will be looking to build on the result to drag themselves away from the bottom 3.
As well as still looking for their first win of the season the Owls are also still in search of a first clean sheet. Kamil Zayatte replaced Miguel Llera at the heart of the Wednesday defence last weekend and will hope to retain his place alongside Roger Johnson following the 1-1 draw at Bolton.
The two sides were suffering a prolonged run of poor form when they met at Oakwell in December last season, also in front of the Sky cameras. On that occasion a dogged Owls display resulted in a 1-0 win that was the catalyst for a much improved second half of the season. Wednesday also managed a 2-1 victory over the Tykes at Hillsborough in March.
Source: Owls-Mad
Source: FOOTYMAD
