Scunthorpe Vs Wednesday: team news

Last updated : 04 April 2008 By C. Morris

The Owls travel to Scunthorpe for Saturday's early kick-off with doubts over right-back Richard Hinds and midfielder Sean McAllister.

Brian Laws took a surprise decision to play Jermaine Johnson at right-back in place of Hinds against Coventry but is unlikely to do this again and Steve Watson may start in this spot if Hinds fails a fitness test.

McAllister also faces a late test and Adam Bolder will be hoping to step in if McAllister is not available for selection.

Elsewhere, Wade Small returns to the squad after a virus and with Franck Songo'o expected to start, Small is in contention with JJ and Burton O'Brien for the other wide-midfield spot.

Loan striker Bartosz Slusarski will be hoping for a longer run-out than the 10 minutes or so that he was given against Coventry on Tuesday evening.

Scunthorpe have a number of injury concerns for the game that sees former Iron manager Brian Laws return to his old stomping ground for the 1st time.

Captain Andy Crosby is struggling to overcome a knee injury, as is winger Kevan Hurst. Fellow wide-man Curtis Weston may also be forced out due to an ankle problem.

Strikers Geoff Horsfield and Paul Hayes are suffering from a bout of illness but key man Martin Paterson may be in line for a timely return. The striker is Scunthorpe's top scorer this season and hit a brace in their 2-1 at Hillsborough earlier in the season.

Wednesday will be hoping to improve on a dismal recent record against their hosts. The clubs have met four times to date in the last five seasons and although Wednesday scored a convincing victory in the Football League trophy Scunthorpe have beaten them in both the league and the F.A. Cup in this time.