Sky Bet Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday could welcome back three long-term absentees for their derby clash with Leeds United at Elland Road this afternoon according to The Sheffield Star.
The Owls squad has been heavily hit with injury woes this season and their league form has suffered as a consequence with Wednesday currently a huge 23 points behind the top six where they had originally targeted prior to kick-off of the 2017/2018 campaign.
With Jos Luhukay’s men set to face Yorkshire rivals Leeds United in a pulsating clash at Elland Road this afternoon, it has been reported that Wednesday will finally have something to cheer about with long-term absentees Joost van Aken, Sam Hutchinson and Barry Bannan all set to return to the side for the first time this year.
Defenders van Aken and Hutchinson have been sidelined since December with hamstring and hernia problems while midfielder Bannan last featured for The Owls in a 3-1 defeat to Norwich City at Carrow Road in the same month.
Sheffield Wednesday have a poor recent record at Elland Road which has seen them fail to win on any of their last five visits. The Owls last won at the West Yorkshire venue over a decade ago when Marcus Tudgay, Chris Brunt and Jermaine Johnson all netted in a 3-2 win. Wednesday did defeat The Whites 3-0 at Hillsborough in the reverse fixture last October.
