Sheffield Wednesday host Colchester United this weekend as they continue their search for a first home league win this year. The midweek defeat against Brentford made it 7 successive league games at Hillsborough without a victory and the club remain just 4 points clear of the relegation zone.
Gary Megson will be hoping to have on loan centre-half Rob Jones available for selection, the Scunthorpe player will undergo a late assessment having suffered concussion in the midweek match.
Giles Coke could return in midfield after missing out recently with a bout of tonsillitis and winger Jermaine Johnson could be in contention for a starting role having impressed as a substitute against Brentford.
The visitors welcome on loan Ipswich defender Tommy Smith back into their squad for their trip north. Smith has missed two league games having been on international duty with New Zealand and may have to settle for a place on the bench as Colchester have won their last two games.
Former Sheffield United loan midfielder John-Joe O’Toole is also likely to be on the bench as he continues to work his way up to full match fitness following an injury lay-off.
Colchester have recovered from a run of 4 successive defeats to record back-to-back victories including a convincing 5-1 win at home to Exeter last Saturday.
Their away form has not been great though with just 4 wins from 19 in the league and they have only won 1 of their last 12 on the road.
Aside from their poor home run Wednesday have hardly been on fire away and as a result have won just 2 of their previous 14 matches.
The 2 sides played out a 1-1 draw at Colchester earlier in the season when Neil Mellor grabbed a late equaliser for the Owls.
In 8 competitive matches between the 2 teams at Hillsborough the visitors have the upper hand with 4 wins to the Owls 3 and they beat Wednesday on their last visit in 2007, running out 2-1 winners, with Akpo Sodje scoring for the home side.