Sheffield Wednesday travel to Watford on Saturday with Stuart Gray still presiding over first team affairs following the dismissal of Dave Jones. Gray has took charge of 2 games to date, leading the Owls to victory against Leicester but suffering a narrow defeat against Nottingham Forest last time out. A positive result at Vicarage Road would do his chance of getting the job on a permanent basis no harm at all.
Experienced midfielder David Prutton has had an ankle operation and faces 3 months out and the Owls have a number of other players sidelined by injury including Giles Coke, Lewis Buxton and Michail Antonio.
Gianfranco Zola is also hampered by some of his squad being unavailable. Defender Joel Eckstrand will miss the match through suspension and although midfielder Almen Abdi is making positive progress in his recovery from injury he is unlikely to be match fit enough to start against the Owls.
On a more positive note for the home side, former Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is in line to return after a short spell out of the team due to illness and injury.
Wednesday travel south hoping to improve on an away record that has yet to see them win on their travels this season. The Owls are rooted in the bottom 3, 4 points behind 4th from bottom side Charlton.
Watford have had a poor recent run of form which has seen them go 8 games without a win and they have lost their last 4 matches on home soil which has seen them slip into a mid-table position in the Championship.
Wednesday suffered 2 defeats at the hands of the Hornets last season, losing 4-1 at Hillsborough and 2-1 on their last trip to Vicarage Road back in March.