Sheffield Wednesday face the sternest challenge of their 100% home record so far this season on Saturday when the league leaders MK Dons travel to Hillsborough. A 4th successive home league win would see the Owls close the gap on their opponents who are unbeaten in 6 League One games in 2011/12, winning 5 of them.
Gary Megson’s side will be weakened by a number of injury absentees, new striker Ryan Lowe misses out due to an ankle injury picked up on his debut at Charlton on Monday evening and fellow front-man Chris O’Grady is still side-lined. Goalkeeper Nicky Weaver may be out of action for some time as he is set to travel to the USA to see a specialist regarding his knee injury.
Left-back Julian Bennett could return after sitting out Monday’s draw at the Valley and influential winger Jermaine Johnson is in contention to make the squad for the first time this season. Striker Clinton Morrison will be hoping for a starting role having come off the bench to help the Owls secure a point on Monday.
MK Dons travel north without the services of Mark Beevers. The centre is on loan from the Owls and is ineligible to face his parent club. Shaun Williams is set to replace Beevers at the heart of the Dons defence as he returns from suspension. Midfielder Jay O’Shea is set to miss out due to an ankle injury but forward Angelo Balanta could return having been side-lined with a muscle problem.
New striker Charlie MacDonald will be hoping to continue his fine goal scoring form have recently moved to the club from Brentford and former Wednesday midfielder Darren Potter is set to start in the centre of the park for the visitors.
Wednesday will take confidence from their 3 wins out of 3 in League One at Hillsborough and will also be encouraged by their 2nd half showing at high flying Charlton on Monday evening where they came from behind to pick up their first away point of the campaign.
Victories at Exeter, Yeovil and Carlisle have given the Dons a 100% away record to date and they also smashed Premier League side Norwich City 4-0 away in the Carling Cup.
The 2 sides have met 4 times since MK Dons took over from Wimbledon and Wednesday are yet to lose in this fixture. Both previous encounters at Hillsborough have ended in draws but the Owls did record a 4-1 victory at the Dons last season, thanks in the main to a hat-trick from Neil Mellor.