Sheffield Wednesday face a stern test of their unbeaten home record when promotion favourites Middlesbrough travel to Hillsborough on Saturday.
Carlos Carvalhal has seen his Owls side record 2 League Cup wins and take 4 points from to league games so far on home soil but Middlesbrough are the strongest side that the Owls will have faced to date.
Wednesday are likely to be without injured goalkeeper Keiren Westwood who it is hoped will be able to make a full recovery from a kidney problem over the forthcoming international break.
New signing Michael Turner will come into contention to play at centre-back but it is at the other end of the field that the Owls continue to struggle. They have managed just 5 goals in 4 league games and main striker Atdhe Nuhiu’s only goal so far this season came in the League Cup against Oxford on Tuesday evening. It is well documented that the club are attempting to bring in a proven goal scorer before next weeks transfer deadline but their efforts this week are yet to come to fruition on that front.
They could however be boosted by the return to fitness of promising young forward Lucas Joao.
Middlesbrough make the short trip south sweating on the fitness of experienced striker David Nugent who faces a late test to prove his fitness after sitting out the midweek cup win at Burton due to a minor injury.
Summer recruit Stuart Downing is expected to feature but there are doubts over Albert Adomah after it was rumoured the attacking winger put in a transfer request following an alleged disagreement with his manager in midweek.
The two sides have made similar progress to date this season having both advanced through 2 rounds of the Capital One Cup and they have both picked up 5 points in the Championship.
Wednesday have a strong recent record at home to Boro, boasting 6 wins from their last 7 meetings at Hillsborough.