Injury woes set to strike again

Last updated : 11 August 2008 By C. Morris

Sheffield Wednesdays' injury problems took just 19 minutes of the new season to hit the team again as Akpo Sodje was forced out of the victory over Burnley.

The talismanic striker had already struck twice and was causing havoc within the opposition back line but he now looks set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines.

Initial reports suggested that it could have been a recurrence of the ankle injury that dogged him last season then that it was possibly a hamstring problem but following a scan on Sunday it has been found to be damage to tendons around the knee.

Sodje will now see a specialist in relation to this and boss Brian Laws is not too optimistic about the outcome, stating on the clubs official website that he is "not looking forward to finding out the news because I don't think it will be good news no matter which surgeon he goes to see."

The loss of Sodje for any period of time will be a major blow to the Owls as in addition to his goals- 9 in 17 league starts for Wednesday- he sets the tempo for the team from the front with his tireless work-rate.

The injury will put more importance on the return of fellow forward Francis Jeffers who could make a long awaited return from a prolonged spell on the sidelines in the League Cup game against Rotherham on Tuesday evening at Hillsborough.