Predicted Sheffield Wednesday lineup to face Reading: Loovens and Wallace fit but patched-up Owls still without several key players

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Sheffield Wednesday will move up to fifth in the Championship with a win against Reading on Friday.

To be played on Friday 17th March 2017 at 19:45. Venue: Hillsborough, Sheffield

Odds: Sheff Wed 8/11, Draw 12/5, Reading 7/2

Sheffield Wednesday have Lucas Joao to thank for sixth place.

The Owls would have been out of the play-offs for the first time since January had their loaned-out striker not scored a last-minute equaliser for Blackburn at Fulham on Tuesday.

Lucas Joao of Blackburn Rovers celebrates with Jason Lowe

And Carlos Carvalhal’s side seize the initiative by beating Reading on Friday – a result which would move them above the Royals to fifth and leave their opponents clinging on ahead of Fulham’s visit of Wolves the following day.

Now, then, is perhaps not the best time for an injury crisis, and Wednesday could be without as many as 10 regulars – Vincent Sasso (suspended), Tom Lees, Glenn Loovens, Sam Hutchinson, Kieran Lee, Almen Abdi, Callum McManaman, Ross Wallace, Fernando Forestieri and Gary Hooper – at Hillsborough.

All but two of those sat out Saturday’s defeat against Aston Villa, in which Sasso was sent off and Loovens hobbled off.

Sheffield Wednesday’s Vincent Sasso reacts to being shown a red card

The Dutchman, though, is perhaps the most likely to return against the Royals, along with Wallace.

Here’s how the patched up Owls and their opponents could look: