Carlisle Vs Wednesday: Team news & preview
Sheffield Wednesday travel to Carlisle United on Saturday in the F.A. Cup with a host of injured players on the sidelines but desperately in need of any form of morale-boosting victory.
The Owls appear to be on the verge of a managerial appointment but are likely to continue to be led by Lee Bullen for this tie. The former Owls captain will have to do without Fernando Forestieri, Keiren Westwood, Kieran Lee, Tom Lees, Gary Hooper, Steven Fletcher, Jack Hunt Joost Van Aken and Barry Bannan who are all out injured. George Boyd could make his first appearance in 4 months following shoulder surgery and Sam Hutchinson could also return. Youngsters Jordan Thorniley and Sean Clare have returned from respective loan spells at Accrington Stanley and Gillingham this week but cannot feature having played for their loan clubs in the competition already this season.
Carlisle, led by former Sheffield United centre-back Keith Curle, are without experienced midfielder Kelvin Etuhu who recently picked up an ankle injury. Jason Kennedy, Nicky Adams and Luke Joyce are all also sidelined. Former Wednesday loan winger Hallam Hope will be in contention to start in attack for the home side.
Wednesday have won just 1 of their last 10 matches and have lost their last 2 without scoring. Carlisle have also lost their last 2 but had won 3 in succession prior to that. They are currently mid-table in League Two, 8 points off a play-off place.
The two sides last met in the F.A. Cup in 1997 when Wednesday were a Premier League side and the Owls won 2-0 at Brunton Park. The most recent meetings came in League One in the 2011-12 season when Carlisle beat the Owls 3-2 at home with Wednesday winning 2-1 at Hillsborough.