Laws Hopeful Over Burton

Wednesday boss Brian Laws is hopeful that he will have striker Deon Burton available for the start of the new season despite fears he may be suspended.

The former Derby and Portsmouth hitman had a two-match suspension hanging over his head - which would have kicked in for the Owls' first two matches of the season - after being sent off for a dubious offence on the club's pre-season tour of Holland.

But Laws now insists last season's joint top scorer at Hillsborough could 'slip through the net' due to a technicality in the ruling.

'He could actually slip through the net on this one, because there's certain criteria that don't tick many boxes in the FA's favour,' Laws told Radio Sheffield.

'Having spoken to Keith Hackett and the FA they've pointed us in the right direction, so there's a slight possibility that he could actually have no suspension at all.

'We'll clarify that, hopefully in the next few days.'

But Laws is not so confident over an appeal on the sending off of winger Chris Brunt, who will also face a two-match ban at the start of the new campaign following his sending off in Holland.