Sheffield Wednesday will go in search of a third-straight Championship win this weekend when they host Preston North End.
Sheffield Wednesday host a very familiar face on Saturday in Paul Heckingbottom: the former Owls player and Sheffield United manager is now the man in charge at Preston North End.
But Heckingbottom’s Preston have been in poor form this season. The 47-year-old has just four wins to his name after 19 games, with Preston sitting in 18th place of the table compared to Wednesday in 12th.
Last time out, Sheffield Wednesday came from behind to beat Derby County at Pride Park, with Danny Rohl’s side now five points outside the top six.
Here we take a look at the top five players to have played for both Preston and Sheffield Wednesday ahead of their weekend clash…
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Top 5 players who played for both Preston North End and Sheffield Wednesday
Leon Clarke
Retired striker Leon Clarke had lengthy spells with both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United, also playing for Preston on loan from QPR in 2011.
In four seasons at Hillsborough, Clarke scored 18 in 87 total appearances, then scoring one in six for Preston whilst on loan in the second half of the 2010/11 season.
Aiden McGeady
Wing wizard Aiden McGeady was once hailed by Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, who outed the Irishman as one to watch when Barcelona played Celtic in the Champions League in 2008.
He said: “Aiden McGeady is a fast and skilful winger and someone I rate highly.”
McGeady played for both Preston and Wednesday on loan from Everton. He joined Wednesday on loan from the Toffees in February 2016 and then Preston in August 2016.
He scored one in 13 for the Owls and eight in 35 for the Lilywhites.
Adam Reach
Sheffield Wednesday paid a hefty £5million fee to sign Adam Reach from Middlesbrough in 2016.
But the season before he arrived at Hillsborough, Reach was on loan at Preston where he scored four in 36 total games.
He went on to score some sublime goals for the Owls, netting 24 in 230 total appearances before his release in 2021.
Reach was recently on trial at Swansea City after his West Brom release at the end of last season. He remains a free agent, however.
Neil Mellor
Sky Sports pundit Neil Mellor was a favourite during his time at Wednesday, with Preston sending the striker on loan to S6 for the 2010/11 season.
He scored 13 in 33 League One games that season. In six seasons at Deepdale, Mellor scored 43 in 150 total appearances.
Mellor was at Sheffield Wednesday’s win at Hull City recently, posting some incredible footage of the Owls fans from the gantry.
Ross Wallace
Ross Wallace is certainly an iconic name among Sheffield Wednesday, making 124 appearances in three seasons with the club and scoring 13 goals.
He was with the Owls between 2015 and 2018, spending time with Preston between 2008 and 2010.
One-cap former Scotland international Wallace, who now works a first-team coach at Fleetwood Town, scored 12 in 89 for Preston.