Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen has delivered a positive squad update ahead of Saturday's Yorkshire derby at Huddersfield Town. The Owls head into the match sitting fourth in League One with 14 points from seven games, just one point behind their third-placed hosts.
Pedersen confirmed defender Max Lowe will be in full training from Monday and could be available for selection this weekend. "We have had some really good weeks with the group," the manager said. Lowe's fitness is reported to be good and he is looking forward to training and playing again.
Further progress has been made by defender Sil Swinkels, who is hoped to be part of more training next week. Di’Shon Bernard has continued positively since his comeback against Salford City and trained well, though he is not yet fit to start. Striker Ali Al-Hamadi has returned to training at Middlewood Road after missing international duty with Iraq due to an ankle injury.
The main concern remains centre-back Ricardo Santos, who has a groin issue. The club is awaiting final results to determine his availability. Santos and Liam Cooper formed the defensive pairing in the two goalless draws against Wigan Athletic and Stockport County before the break.
Opposition and form
Huddersfield Town, managed by Martin Drury, will be without several key players including Jack Whatmough and Herbie Kane. The Terriers beat Burton Albion 3-1 in their last league outing and sit one point above Wednesday. The Owls are on a seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions, their latest a 2-0 EFL Trophy win over Sunderland Under-21s where Jaden Heskey and Barry Bannan scored. Top scorer Jamal Lowe has four goals this season.
Pedersen believes the break provided valuable training time and aided player recoveries. With key players returning, Wednesday aim to extend their unbeaten streak to eight games. The match kicks off at the Accu Stadium on Saturday, with Wednesday looking to close the gap at the top. Following the trip to Huddersfield, Sheffield Wednesday's next fixture is a home League One match against Charlton Athletic on Tuesday, September 24th. Fans can check the latest standings and view the full fixtures list on the club site.
First reported at Sheffield Wednesday FC
