Owls Vs Royals: Team news

Last updated : 04 December 2009 By C. Morris

Sheffield Wednesday face Reading at Hillsborough on Saturday with 3 points almost a necessity as the aim to distance themselves from the Championship relegation zone.

The Owls suffered a demoralising 4-0 reverse at the hands of West Bromwich Albion at Hillsborough last weekend and Brian Laws could make changes based on what was a poor all round display.

Left-back Tommy Spurr was taken off before half-time and if there is to be a reshuffle of the back four then Mark Beevers and Captain Darren Purse could be in line for recalls whilst moving Michael Gray to left-back is also an option worth considering.

Wednesday created little against the Baggies and so winger Etienne Esajas may be hopeful of getting another opportunity after finding himself on the bench in recent weeks.

Sean McAllister will be hopeful of a rare appearance in midfield but loan signing Tom Soares 2nd half appearance last weekend suggests that he is not match fit to play a full 90 minutes.

Luke Varney, Marcus Tudgay, Leon Clarke and on loan Warren Feeney will be vying for places up front but Francis Jeffers is likely to miss out through injury.

The visitors travel north without former Sheffield United midfielder Brian Howard who injured his jaw in last weekends defeat at Derby County.

Striker Shane Long was dismissed in the closing stages at Pride Park and will miss the trip to Hillsborough due to suspension. Key attacking player Noel Hunt is a long term absentee but there could be a place in the side for one time Owls transfer target Grzegorz Rasiak.

Wednesday come into the fixture on the back of a shocking run of no wins in six, which has included four defeats. The poor run of form has seen them slip to 19th place in the Coca-Cola Championship, one point above Reading and just three points clear of the relegation zone.

The defeat that Reading suffered at Derby last Saturday was their first in four having previously collected seven points from a possible nine although prior to that they had lost four games in succession.

The two sides have only met five times in their history at Hillsborough with Wednesday suffering their first home defeat to the Royals back in March this year. They also suffered a humiliating 6-0 reverse at Reading last season.