Wednesday Vs Middlesbrough: Team news & preview
Sheffield Wednesday host Middlesbrough at Hillsborough on Saturday and are in desperate need of a win to take some confidence into the hectic festive period of games. The Owls are without a win in 6 and have a number of players on the treatment table.
Goalkeeper Keiren Westwood is expected to miss his 2nd game in succession though Joe Wildsmith has often proved an able deputy when he has stepped up. Influential midfielder Kieran Lee faces more surgery while Tom Lees, George Boyd and Fernando Forestieri will not feature before the turn of the year.
Carlos Carvalhal will hope for better news on the return of playmaker Barry Bannan and right-back Jack Hunt while Same Hutchinson could be close to a return after months on the sidelines. Left-back Morgan Fox will sit this one out through suspension following his late dismissal in the defeat against Wolves last time out.
Middlesbrough forward Rudi Gestede will be hoping for his first start since August having recovered from a thigh injury to feature as a substitute in the last 3 matches. Former Leeds United midfielder Adam Clayton could also make a return to the side.
The home defeat to league leaders Wolves was the Owls second loss at Hillsborough this season but too many of their matches have ended in draws which is why they find themselves 10 points off the play-off pace.
Middlesbrough have won 2 and lost 4 of their last 6 and they have been defeated in each of their last 3 away games. The two teams last met in the league in the 2015-16 season when Boro beat Wednesday 3-1 at Hillsborough and also won 1-0 at home. Wednesday were beaten 3-0 at Boro in the F.A. Cup last season.