Addicks Vs Owls: Team news

Last updated : 26 September 2008 By C. Morris

Sheffield Wednesday visit the Valley tomorrow looking for their first three point haul on their travels this campaign.

Owls fans will be hoping that the team makes it to the ground in plenty of time as traffic delays were put forward as a partial excuse for the 6-0 mauling the team suffered in their last away match at Reading.

Young centre-back Mark Beevers will have his fitness assessed prior to the game and a late decision on his participation will be made as a result. The defender has had a hamstring problem that was initially only thought to keep him out for a few days but he has now missed the last three matches.

If he fails to make it then Tommy Spurr is likely to continue at centre-half with Peter Gilbert at left-back.

Up-front Francis Jeffers and Leon Clarke both put forward their cases for a start with impressive displays for the reserves on Tuesday but it is more than likely that both will have to be content with a place on the bench. Jeffers though will hope to get more than the 10 minutes he was given against Ipswich last weekend. Deon Burton will also be hoping to start having also had to settle for a substitute's role against Ipswich. The Jamaican has struggled at times this season due to a busy travelling schedule through international duty but as he recovers from this he will be hoping to replace compatriot Jermaine Johnson in attack with JJ returning to his more familiar right-sided role.

Charlton have defensive injury problems to counter with Jonathan Fortune definitely ruled out and Martin Cranie also struggling so Linvoy Primus could come into the side.

China international Zheng Zhi, who was influential in the home sides victory in the same fixture last season has yet to feature for the Addicks this season due to Olympic participation and injury but could return against the Owls.

Charlton are likely to revert back to 4-4-2 at home having played 4-5-1 at Nottingham Forest last week, with former Sheffield United striker Andy Gray expected to return to the starting line up.

Due to differing fortunes the clubs have only met three times at the Valley in the past 15 years. In 1996, Charlton, then a first division side, knocked Wednesday out of the F.A. Cup at the third round stage. In 1999 Wednesday visited the Valley on the final day of the 1998/99 season and won 1-0 thanks to a Danny Sonner goal which saw the hosts relegated from the Premier League. Last season the Owls took a 2-0 advantage into half-time but collapsed in the second half and lost the match 3-2.