Laws Rules Out Clarke Return

Calls to bring Leon Clarke back from his loan spell at Southend United have fallen on deaf ears with Owls boss Brian Laws ruling out a return for the frontman.

The former Wolves man has been in tip-top form for the Shrimpers by bagging seven goals in eight games since making the loan switch to the League One club - and his form has seen Wednesday fans calling for his return to S6.

But the Owls boss has told BBC Radio Sheffield that Clarke will not be making a pre-mature return to Hillsborough, although he could approach the Owls' board to seek cover for the injured Francis Jeffers.

The news will see rumours re-surface that a deal has already been put in place to see Clarke remain at Southend when his loan spell ends in January, with the Owls set to receive a fee similar to that what they paid Wolves earlier this year.

But Wednesday could yet see a new hitman arrive at the club in the coming weeks, with Laws looking for a replacement for Jeffers, who is set to be sidelined for at least three months following an ankle injury picked up in the 4-2 victory at Stoke City at the weekend.

Marcus Tudgay, Deon Burton and Akpo Sodje are all fit and ready to prove themselves in the coming weeks but Laws could well seek some money to bring a new loan player in until the Owls' 'fox in the box' returns to action.

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