Sheffield Wednesday host Stoke City this weekend in a big clash.
Stoke City boss Gary Rowett has told the club’s official Youtube channel what he has seen differently in Sheffield Wednesday this season and names three players his side must watch out for at Hillsborough.
“They played a back five last season, and that gives you some problems and gives you a chance to cause them problems. This season they’ve predominantly played a back four. They’ll be a good side,” Rowett explained.
“They’ll be energetic. They’ve got some very, very good players with the likes of Barry Bannan who makes them tick I think, [Atdhe] Nuhiu who is always a handful upfront and [Lucas] Joao.”
Could this be the game to kick-start Stoke’s season?
Stoke have endured a poor start to the Championship campaign following their relegation from the Premier League last season, winning just one of their opening six games of the season.
Many tipped the Potters to be among the favourites to win the Championship title this season, with manager Rowett inheriting a strong squad of players following his summer move from near rivals Derby County.
The international break will have given Rowett time to further assess his squad and work with them on the training ground, and you would expect them to gradually improve as the season progresses.
Wednesday, however, head into the fixture having won their last three games in succession (all finishing 2-1) and they are unbeaten at Hillsborough so far having picked up seven points from their three home games.
With Barry Bannan back fit and Joao scoring three times in his last two games, Stoke have their work cut out and they would probably take a point beforehand, which would be deemed a positive result.
Owls boss Jos Luhukay was unable to strengthen his squad during the summer due to a transfer embargo, but the return of Bannan, Tom Lees and Fernando Forestieri from injury problems now act like new signings.
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