It will come as no surprise to Sheffield Wednesday fans to find that injury problems have flared up just as the new season as about to start.
Akpo Sodje left the field during the final proper pre season friendly against Blackburn on Saturday with fans fearing the worst and it has been confirmed that the talisman will miss the start of the season with a groin injury that is likely to see him sidelined for around a month.
Leon Clarke also limped out of the Blackburn game having failed to last 10 minutes but this was done primarily as a precaution and it is hoped he will be fit to play against Barnsley.
It has been stated that there are funds available to bring in someone on loan should an emergency occur but this is unlikely to happen at this stage as Wednesday definitely have Tudgay and Jeffers fit and raring to go with youngster Boden and Modest available as back up.
With the addition of Michael Gray and the return to fitness of Etienne Esajas together with other midfield strengthening Marcus Tudgay is likely to be given the chance to operate in his preferred strike role more this season rather than having to fulfil a role in wide midfield.
Whilst the Sodje news is obviously a blow it should be put in perspective as so not to dampen what has been a fairly optimistic mood amongst supporters until now.
Akpo only started two games in total last season and 16 games in the league the season before and so the squad will have become more familiar to playing a certain way without him than with him in the side.
Wednesday have had more than their fair share of bad luck in terms of injuries to strikers. In addition to Sodje’s 2 starts last season Francis Jeffers and Leon Clarke only managed 20 starts each meaning that between the three of them they did not add up to a full season of league games.
For most managers who have four strikers to pick from the challenge is to decide who to leave out but for Brian Laws it must be something of a relief to have two fit at any one time.