Leeds Vs Wednesday: Team news & preview
Sheffield Wednesday are likely to be backed by both sides of the city on Saturday as Sheffield United fans will also be hoping Leeds lose out at Elland Road.
Wednesday go into the weekend 7 points behind 5th-placed Aston Villa and 6 adrift of 6th-placed Bristol City but as those two face each other on Saturday afternoon the Owls will know they can close the gap on at least one of them with a win as they bid to keep their slip top-6 hopes alive. Leeds go into the weekend in second place and although Sheffield United can overhaul them if they can pick up 3 points in their 3pm clash with Millwall, a win for Leeds would see them maintain their automatic promotion place.
Barry Bannan is a major doubt going into the game. Having missed the clash with Nottingham Forest with a hamstring injury the midfielder only returned to training on Friday and will be assessed. Similar can be said of full-back Dominic Iorfa while winger Rolando Aarons only returned to training late this week after tow weeks on the sidelines so is not expected to be involved. Sam Hutchinson should be back in the squad having missed out in midweek due to illness.
Leeds' influential playmaker Pablo Hernandez had passed a fitness test and should start the game for the home side and Patrick Bamford is likely to lead the line having scored a brace in the midweek win at Preston. Barry Douglas is likely to be out for the remainder of the season.
Steve Bruce's Owls come into the game having lost only two of their last fourteen league matches and Leeds have won 4 of their last six. The two sides played out a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough back in September and Wednesday enjoyed a league double over their West Yorkshire rivals last season, including a 2-1 win at Elland Road just over a year ago.