Statistical Head to Head: Hutchinson v Lopez – who should get the nod for Wednesday at Wembley?

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Sheffield Wednesday face a selection dilemma ahead of Saturday’s play-off final date with Hull City.

Carlos’ Choice: Who will get the nod at Wembley?

Alex Lopez or Sam Hutchinson? Galician flair or good old-fashioned English grit?

Both have played their part in Sheffield Wednesday’s passage to the Championship play-offs – albeit at different ends of the season – and will contest for a place alongside Kieran Lee and Barry Bannan in Saturday’s finale at Wembley.

But who should get the nod? We at HITC analyse the key stats…

As far as comparisons go, Lopez versus Hutchinson is fairly straightforward. Both have played a similar number of matches this season – 24 and 26 respectively.

Hull City’s Nick Powell in action against Sheffield Wednesday’s Fernando Forestieri and Alex Lopez

In terms of victories, the stats lean slightly in favour of the former, who’s been on the winning side in 42 per cent of his appearances, while Hutchinson has won 35 per cent of his.

If it’s goals you’re looking for, you’re probably best casting your glances elsewhere, with neither player on target in a league game this season. Hutchinson, though, did find the net against Arsenal in the Capital One Cup, while Lopez’s heavily deflected effort against Charlton was later given as an own goal.

As for assists, there’s little to choose between the pair, who’ve recorded two and one in the Spaniard’s favour.

Sheffield Wednesday’s Sam Hutchinson is shown a yellow card

Hutchinson’s combative approach is well-documented, and unsurprisingly his accumulation of yellow cards (13) far outweighs that of Lopez (five), as does his tally of successful tackles (38 to eight).

But if you think that in any way detracts from the 26-year-old’s ability as a footballer, well the stats suggest otherwise.

Hutchinson has recorded 83 more accurate passes than Lopez this season (757 overall) and his reading of the game is far superior, having made 84 interceptions to his rival’s 24.

Who will Carlos choose? We’re none the wiser. That’s why they pay him the big bucks…