Owls out to overcome Iron at Glanford Park

Last updated : 23 August 2010 By C. Morris

Sheffield Wednesday make the short trip to Scunthorpe on Saturday as they look to progress in the Carling Cup and maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

The Championship opposition will provide the toughest test of the season to date and Wednesday certainly don’t have a great recent record at Glanford Park.

Alan Irvine has tried to keep a settled side where possible in the league but made a host of changes as the Owls struggled past Bury in round one and may choose to give some of his squad players another opportunity.

Clinton Morrison missed out on the weekend win against Brighton as he was suffering from stiffness and he may be saved for league duty with Paul Heffernan in line to get a chance up front.

Midfielder Tommy Miller has yet to feature this season but returned to full training last week and could make a return to the fold.

Elsewhere Daniel Jones, Jon Otsemobor and James O’Connor and youngster Liam Palmer could all be in contention for a place in the starting 11 though there may not be as many changes as in the first round given the step up in the standard of the opposition.

Scunthorpe will be without influential winger Garry Thomson who has been ruled out for two months as a result of a groin injury. Defender Jim McNulty sustained an ankle injury in the weekend defeat at QPR and will also miss the tie. Experienced defender Cliff Byrne is expected to make a return to the side as a result and former Owls loanee Eddie Nolan could revert from the right to left full back.

Former Rochdale striker Chris Dagnall could start alongside ex-Sheffield United striker Jonathan Forte up front.

Wednesday lost a pre-season friendly at Scunthorpe by a goal to nil last month and Alan Irvine also suffered his first defeat as Owls manager against the Iron in the Championship back in January. The two sides drew 1-1 at Glanford Park in April 2008. Wednesday salvaged a late draw there in the F.A. Cup in 2003 only to lose the replay on penalties.

The Owls are left flying the flag for South Yorkshire in the League cup as Sheffield United, Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham were all dumped out at the first attempt.