Owls must make enforced changes as they look to kick off crucial week with a win

19 March 2010 16:47
Wednesday Vs Derby County: Team news Sheffield Wednesday have back to back home games coming up starting with the visit of Derby County to Hillsborough on Saturday as they bid to steer clear of the Coca-Cola Championship relegation zone. Alan Irvine will be forced into making at least two changes to the eleven that started the 2-2 draw at Preston North End last Tuesday. Winger Jermaine Johnson limped out of that clash in the first half and is set to miss around two weeks with a hamstring injury. Striker Luke Varney will also have to sit out the encounter with the Rams as he is on loan from the Pride Park club and is ineligible to play under the terms of the loan agreement between the two clubs. Irvine has a number of alternatives to replace Johnson, Etienne Esajas scored and was influential for the reserves in midweek, Tom Soares replaced JJ at Preston and Michael Gray is also available. Leon Clarke is expected to come in for Varney up front although Francis Jeffers could also feature. The visitors continue to be without key midfielder Kris Commons due to injury and former Sheffield United winger Lee Hendrie is also sidelined. Young home grown defender Miles Addison continues to struggle with a foot problem but goalkeeper Stephen Bywater could return after missing the last couple of fixtures. Wednesday have only won one of their last seven but that was in their last home game against Leicester and they will be encouraged by two hard earned away draws at Swansea and Preston. Similarly Derby only have one victory in their last six and have lost four out of their last five away with their only point in the spell picked up on their last visit to Sheffield at Bramall Lane. An Owls win would move them to within one point of the Rams and push them back into the relegation picture but an away win would give Derby breathing space. Wednesday produced a poor performance and were beaten with ease, 3-0 at Pride Park back in October and Derby also boast a good recent record at Hillsborough. In their eight league visits they have won on six occasions and have lost just once whilst also knocking the Owls out of the F.A Cup on penalties in 2008.  

Source: FOOTYMAD