Owls Vs Tangerines: Team News

Last updated : 26 December 2008 By C. Morris

A Merry Christmas to all Wednesday fans on behalf of owls-mad, hope you had a good one and what better way could there be to get over the hangover or dodgy stomach than to see Wednesday pick up three points on Friday?

Hopefully the traditionally well-attended home Boxing Day fixture will provide a boost to the recently flagging attendances and Wednesday will at least have enough fit bodies to name a squad of 16!

On the injury front, Winger Wade Small, Striker Francis Jeffers and veteran utility man Steve Watson are those deemed most likely to make a return from the treatment table.

Young front-man Nathan Modest could be included once again as his knee injury is not thought to be anything serious.

This means that the Owls will still have to make do without the likes of Jermaine Johnson, Frank Simek, Etienne Esajas, Akpo Sodje and Leon Clarke as they go in search of a six point haul against Blackpool this season.

The visitors come to Hillsborough in some sort of turmoil having seen their Manager Simon Grayson depart for mid-table League One side Leeds United against their wishes earlier in the week.

Steve Thompson and Tony Parkes will take charge of the team for the Boxing Day clash and they could well pick from the same squad that drew with Swansea at the weekend. Captain Rob Edwards is struggling to shake off an injury in time to return while Jermaine Wright and Stephen Crainey are also sidelined.

Lee Hendrie, on loan from Sheffield United is suspended but ex-Blades striker Steve Kabba is pushing for a return to the starting line-up, as are Alan Gow and Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

Blackpool come to Hillsborough in average form that has seen them win 2, draw 2 and lose 2 of their last 6 games, including a 2-0 home defeat to the Owls last month.

They have a respectable record on their Championship travels this season, with 4 wins and 4 draws from 12 fixtures.

Wednesday come into the game on the back of their first defeat in six games at Cardiff on Saturday but have only been beaten twice at Hillsborough so far in the league this season and have beaten the Tangerines at S6 in their last two visits.