Predicted Sheffield Wednesday v Newcastle United lineups: Forestieri returns for Owls, Toon still without Clark

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Sheffield Wednesday host league leaders Newcastle United on Saturday.

To be played on Saturday 8th April 2017 at 17:30. Venue: Hillsborough, Sheffield

Odds: Sheff Wed 2/1, Draw 9/4, Newcastle 7/5

Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle United returned to where they want to be in midweek, but could both find themselves playing catch-up once more by the time they kick-off at Hillsborough on Saturday evening.

Wins for Brighton at QPR on Friday and Fulham at home to Ipswich the following afternoon would leave both the Owls and Magpies needing all three points to return to sixth and first place respectively.

A pulsating encounter awaits – in theory – though dropped points for Brighton could convince Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez to adopt a more conservative approach.

Though Wednesday – who don’t have that luxury – may have stuttered of late, they were at least able to welcome back two of their key players, Gary Hooper and Ross Wallace, from injury in midweek – and promptly won their first game in five matches.

The Owls are hopeful of another pre-match boost against Newcastle, with former Toon target Fernando Forestieri due back after a month on the sidelines – though it remains to be seen whether Sam Hutchinson will also return.

Newcastle are in relatively good shape as they hunt down the Championship title, with none of Wednesday night’s missing quartet, Ciaran Clark, DeAndre Yedlin, Jack Colback and Isaac Hayden, expected to be out long-term – though Clark is unlikely to feature at Hillsborough.

Here’s how we at HITC think the two sides could look*:

*Players not necessarily in positional order