Sheffield Wednesday can climb to fifth in the Championship with a win against the Royals.
Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal
Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal has confirmed that two of his key players will be ready in time to face Reading on Friday.
Wednesday will leapfrog the Royals into fifth position with a win at Hillsborough, but could be without a string of first-teamers against Jaap Stam’s side.
The Owls are especially thin on the ground at centre-back, with Vincent Sasso suspended and Glenn Loovens hobbling out of Saturday’s defeat to Aston Villa.
Loovens’ regular partner Tom Lees has been sidelined since January, while key midfielder Sam Hutchinson, who began the campaign at the back, is rated as doubtful heading into the Reading game.
According to Carvalhal, Loovens and Lees, at least, will be fit for the Royals’ visit.
“I will not be talking about injuries, other than Tom Lees and Glenn Loovens are ready to play,” he told a press conference, broadcast via Wednesday’s official Facebook page on Thursday.
The Portuguese added that a number of others, including talisman Fernando Forestieri and in-form winger Ross Wallace, will be assessed on the day of the game.
The Sheffield Star reported earlier that Wednesday are seeking a second opinion on the knee injury which kept Forestieri out of the Owls’ Villa Park visit.
The Argentina-born Italian has scored 11 goals and created another six in 31 appearances for the Yorkshire side this season.
Sheffield Wednesday’s Fernando Forestieri in action
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