Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl has some tough calls to make ahead of his side’s Championship clash against Preston on Saturday.
Preston North End visit Hillsborough on Saturday, as Sheffield Wednesday make their return to S6 after a week of away games in the Championship.
Last time out, Sheffield Wednesday stunned Derby County with a 2-1 comeback win at Pride Park, having beaten Hull City away from home in their previous outing.
Hull City sacked manager Tim Walter after their defeat to the Owls, who now find themselves in 12th place of the Championship table compared to Preston in 18th.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side are winless in eight but held West Brom to a 1-1 draw at Deepdale last time out, with seven points currently separating them and Wednesday in the standings.
Sheffield Wednesday team and injury news vs Preston with Barry Bannan suspended
Wednesday will have to do without captain and star man Barry Bannan for the game against Preston on Saturday.
Bannan picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Derby County and is now suspended for one more game.
Rohl discussed his possible Sheffield Wednesday midfield selection for Preston during his Thursday presser, but offered no hint as to who might start.
Elsewhere, Olaf Kobacki is set to return for Sheffield Wednesday in the coming weeks, whilst Akin Famewo is sidelined until 2025.
Di’Shon Bernard is available for selection after serving a one-game suspension.
Whether or not Ike Ugbo features remains to be seen with the striker having missed the Derby game through injury.
Predicted Sheffield Wednesday lineup to face Preston North End
Expect Bernard to come straight back into the XI, replacing Dominic Iorfa who was poor for Sheffield Wednesday against Derby last time out.
Replacing Bannan will be the trickiest bit for Rohl this weekend. There’s no like-for-like player in the team and so Wednesday may look slightly off the pace in the engine room against Preston.
With Nathaniel Chalobah having only just returned from injury, it looks as though we might see Svante Ingelsson start the game in midfield alongside Charles, with Charles doing more of the passing and Ingelsson more of the dirty work.
Windass should come back into the XI if he’s fit enough to start, having come off the bench against Derby County last time out.
Here’s how we think Sheffield Wednesday will line up against Preston on Saturday…
Beadle (GK)
Johnson
M. Lowe
Bernard
Valery
Valentin
Ingelsson
Charles
Gassama
Windass
Smith