Sheffield Wednesday travel to London to face Charlton Athletic in front of the Sky TV cameras on Monday evening knowing that a win will take them into the top six in League One. To do this the Owls will need to produce a much better performance than they have managed on their travels so far this season – they have been knocked out of two cup competitions on the road and have lost both their away games in the league.
Wednesday make the trip south without Liam Palmer who is on international duty with Scotland under 21’s and Reda Johnson who is away with the Benin national squad. The Owls two recent additions, defender David Kasnik and striker Ryan Lowe are both available and Lowe will be looking to continue his fine scoring form this season and hit the ground running if he is selected to make his Owls debut.
Goalkeeper Nicky Weaver and midfielder Jose Semedo are expected to feature against their former club, Semedo moved to Hillsborough on a free transfer in the summer, turning down the offer of a new contract at Charlton where he was voted as their player of the year last season.
Like Wednesdays, Charlton endured a disappointing 2010/11 campaign a Chris Powell reacted by implementing a total revamp of the team during the summer. The signing of young striker Michael Smith from Darlington last week was the clubs 18th addition since the end of last season.
One of those signings, Michael Morrison, had a troubled few months at Hillsborough last season but he has settled into the Athletic side and is expected to start. Winger Danny Green, a summer transfer target of the Owls, has struggled to get into the first team and may have to settle for a place on the bench in Bradley Wright-Phillips is fit enough to make a return.
Charlton sold their 1st choice goalkeeper Rob Elliot to Newcastle last week and so Ben Hamer, who had spells on loan at Brentford and Exeter last season is likely to step up.
Wednesday have won 3 out 3 at home in the league but are yet to pick up a point on their travels following defeats at Bournemouth and Bury. Charlton are unbeaten in 6 games in all competitions so far this season and have only dropped 2 points in the league, slipping up to draw 2-2 at home against Scunthorpe having held a 2-0 lead.
The Owls lost 1-0 at the Valley last season, Scott Wagstaff scoring the only goal of the game and the match at Hillsborough in January ended in a 2-2 after the home side had gone in 2-0 down at half-time. In 23 visits to the Addicks Wednesday have won on 6 occasions but have lost twice that amount, drawing 5 times.