Owls Close In On Striker

Owls boss Paul Sturrock has admitted he is close to agreeing a deal to bring a striker on loan to Hillsborough - but is still debating whether to bring him in before or after the Leeds match.

Sturrock must decide whether it's worth signing the striker before Sundays televised clash - with a two week break meaning he will play less matches than he would if he arrived at Hillsborough after Sunday.

If the loanee, believed to be a young Premiership striker, arrives after the Yorkshire derby it would mean him being available for the Owls hectic schedule of five games in 22 days during September.

Sturrock told the official SWFC site: 'I'm in discussions with a Premier League team at this moment in time, and they are in discussions with the player. The laddie wanted to have a wee think about things over the weekend.'

He continued: 'I had contact with the club again on Monday morning and they've promised they'll get back to me once they've had a chat with the player. If he's keen, we'll try to sort something out. If he isn't we've got to move on.'

Young Reading striker Shane Long is the name linked with a one-month loan deal to Hillsborough. The Irishman is currently behind Leroy Lita, Kevin Doyle and Dave Kitson in the pecking order at the Premiership club.

Wednesday were without a single fit striker for the weekend trip to Plymouth. Fill-in striker Wade Small was also taken off after just ten minutes of the match and is set to be sidelined for two weeks. Steve Maclean, Deon Burton, Marcus Tudgay, Barry Corr and Drew Talbot are also sidelined.

Meanwhile, there's some good news for Owls fans after the Owls boss revealed Deon Burton could be fit for the televised clash with Leeds on Sunday. But Sturrock won't risk the former Derby hitman for Wednesday's cup match against Wrexham.

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