Owls Vs Tykes: Team news & preview
Sheffield Wednesday desperately need 3 points when they face South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley at lunchtime on Saturday.
Wednesday will be without skipper Glenn Loovens as he serves a suspension following his dismissal at derby last weekend. Joost Van Aken is likely to replace him while Sam Hutchinson is struggling to be fit. Owls boss Carlos Carvalhal has stated that on-loan Derby midfielder and former Barnsley player, Jacob Butterfield is likely to feature in this game and/or the midweek clash with Millwall. Fernando Forestieri and George Boyd remain long-term absentees.
Barnsley have been dealt a blow with the news that centre-back Adam Jackson faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines having suffered knee ligament damage in last Saturday’s defeat at home to Hull. Former Wednesday loan midfielder Gary Gardner is also rule out due to a leg injury but another ex-Owls loaner, Lloyd Isgrove, could make his first Tykes appearance of the season.
Wednesday have dropped to 6 points off the play-off spots due to a run which has seen them lose 4 of their last 5 games. Barnsley are 4 points behind the Owls and are in indifferent form having taken 4 points from their last 3 games.
The Owls have won 4 of the last 6 clashes against the Tykes at Hillsborough, losing just once. The two times they met last season resulted in a 2-0 win for Wednesday at Hillsborough and a 1-1 draw at Oakwell.