Sheffield Wednesday will look to put a poor pre-season results-wise behind them this Saturday when they kick-off their League One campaign against Dagenham and Redbridge at Hillsborough. Alan Irvine stressed that the priority during the summer was to achieve prime match fitness and all of the friendly matches will be quickly forgotten if the Owls can get their promotion bid off to a flying start.
With 9 new players acquired over the course of the summer there could be plenty of potential headline grabbers making their competitive debuts in the blue and white stripes.
Nicky Weaver is set to make his second debut for his hometown club in goal whilst Jon Otsemobor and Daniel Jones could come in at full-back. Jones could also operate on the left of midfield whilst Chris Sedgwick and Gary Teale are also options for the wide midfield positions with Jermaine Johnson likely to miss out due to a knee injury.
Tommy Miller is the only other Owls injury absentee with a hamstring problem keeping him sidelined. Potter, O’Connor, Coke and Palmer are all options to start in central midfield. In attack Clinton Morrison is hoping for a starting berth despite an injury hit pre-season with Mellor, Heffernan and Tudgay also in contention.
Whoever does get a starting place does at least know this season that the onus is on them to hit the ground running as there are other alternatives in most positions should they fail to produce the goods.
League One newcomers Dagenham and Redbridge make the trip to Hillsborough for the first time in their history. The Londoners are led by manager John Still who has a wealth of experience in the lower leagues and he will be hoping that his troops can take forward the momentum of last season which led to them seeing off Rotherham United in the play-off final at Wembley.
With average home crowds of little over 2,000 the Daggers operate on a small budget but they have added a number of players to bolster their promotion winning side this summer. Winger Damian Scannell joined on a free transfer after leaving Southend, ex-Gillingham midfielder Stewart Lewis has also signed as has Gavin Tomlin, formerly of Yeovil.
Former Ipswich midfielder Darren Currie joined the club on an 18-month deal in January. Veteran goalkeeper Tony Roberts, a former Welsh international, has signed a new contract to stay with the Daggers and Paul Benson, who bagged 20 league goals last season, is expected to lead the line despite continued interest in his services from Charlton Athletic.