Preview: Owls v Leicester

Wednesday will be hoping to get back to winning ways and start climbing up the Championship table as Gary Megson's Leicester City travel up to Hillsborough.

The Owls were unfortunate to fall to a 2-1 defeat at Watford in midweek and will be confident of getting a result against a Foxes side that seems to have become all too familiar to draws since Megson took over.

The drama at the Walkers Stadium has been non-stop since the start of the season, with Martin Allen already getting the boot, but Foxes fans have yet to take to the former Wednesday favourite, despite picking up a Carling Cup scalp against Aston Villa.

Michael Johnson told the Sheffield Star:

'Hopefully we can take our second-half performance (from the Watford game) into the Leicester game.

'Leicester are in a similar position to ourselves. They need points. They've got a new manager, Gary Megson, who I know well. I don't think it's going to be the prettiest of games - they're as desperate for points as we are.'

Foxes striker Iain Hume told the Leicester Mercury:

'Going to Hillsborough is something I have always found difficult but if we can beat them to go into the international break with that win under our belts then it would be a tremendous boost.'

'We have been performing quite well, not galactical football, but it is generating results and getting points through things we were not doing last year or the year before.


'It's positive we are not now conceding silly goals. If we continue to do that, everything will fall into place. It is just a matter of time.'

Owls boss Brian Laws will be leaving his squad selection until the very last minute as he waits on a number of his injured charges to prove their fitness ahead of the clash with the Foxes.

Goalkeeper Lee Grant is expected to regain the number one jersey from Rob Burch after missing out at Vicarage Road in midweek but there are still question marks hanging over eight of the Owls squad.

Steve Watson (knee), Francis Jeffers, Richard Wood (both groin), Wade Small (ankle), Tommy Spurr (dead leg) will all be hoping to return after missing out in midweek but will undergo late fitness tests.

But there are also concerns over Akpo Sodje (knee), Frank Simek (ankle) and Richard Hinds (hand) who all took knocks and will undergo late tests.

Jet-heeled winger Jermaine Johnson will sit on the sidelines with a one-match suspension after his sending off in midweek.

The Owls' loanee captain will be in for a big game in more ways than one on Saturday. Johnson, on loan from Derby, will be a key cog at the heart of the Wednesday defence. But he'll also be keen to get one over the Midlands club, who have a big rivalry with Nottingham Forest, the team he supports.

Gary Megson will be hoping to return to Hillsborough as a winning manager as he puts his ties with the Owls to one side for 90 minutes.

But he'll have to do it without club captain Stephen Clemence who remains the biggest doubt for Leicester going in to the clash. Clemence missed the midweek stalemate with Wolves through a calf injury.

Youngster Andy King, who is getting rave reviews at the Walkers Stadium, could step in and continue in the midfield should the former Spurs and Birmingham man fail to be fit.

OK, we haven't gone for the obvious in former Wednesday target Iain Hume, but youngster Joe Mattock is getting rave reviews down at the Walkers Stadium and is even being tipped in some quarters as a future England international, with Chelsea apparantly looking at his services before the departure of Jose Mourinho.

Head-To-Head:

Wednesday wins: 38
Leicester wins: 36
Draws: 28

Last Time Out:

Leicester City 1-4 Wednesday

Saturday, December 2, 2006

Wednesday were in fifth gear as they hammered the Foxes on home soil thanks to soem superb finishing. Chris Brunt got the ball rolling from the spot just before the break before adding a superb half volley early in the second half. And further fantastic strikes from Glenn Whelan and Marcus Tudgay rubber stamped the crushing victory.

Current Form:

Wednesday: L-W-L-W-L

Leciester: D-D-W-L-W

Previous Line-Ups:

Wednesday: Burch, Simek (Esajas 54), Michael Johnson, Hinds (Bullen 46), Gilbert, Jermaine Johnson, Whelan, Kavanagh, Tudgay, Burton, Sodje. Subs Not Used: Lunt, O'Brien, Beevers.

Leicester: Fulop, N'Gotty, Kisnorbo, McAuley, Stearman, King, Chambers, Kishishev (Cort 73), Mattock, Fryatt (Campbell 83), Hume. Subs Not Used: Henderson, Newton, Kenton.

20/10/07 - Stoke City (A)

23/10/07 - Scunthorpe United (H)

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