None of Gary Hooper, Kieran Lee or Kieren Westwood have featured under the new Sheffield Wednesday boss, Jos Luhukay.
Kieran Lee is unlikely to play again this season, Sheffield Wednesday manager Jos Luhukay revealed on Thursday.
Luhukay suggested earlier this month that Lee was closing in on a return to fitness, after more than three months out of action.
But, speaking via the club’s Facebook page ahead of Friday’s visit of Preston North End, the Dutchman admitted that is no longer the case.
Wednesday have been boosted by the returns of Tom Lees, Sam Hutchinson and Barry Bannan in recent weeks, and when asked for updates on those still sidelined, Luhukay replied: “Gary Hooper is today in London with the doctor, to see what his next steps are.
“Keiren Westwood came back to team training yesterday (Wednesday).
“Kieran Lee, I don’t think this season he will come back to the team. This is the same for Steven Fletcher, Ross Wallace, Sean Clare.”
In other, more positive news, however, Fernando Forestieri could make his first appearance since August over the Easter period.
Luhukay confirmed: “Fernando will be in the squad. He is an option for us.
“He has been out for a long time but he is now also on three weeks back on the field. He is working hard to come back for the first team.”
Like the Argentine, Joost van Aken stepped up his recovery as the Owls’ Under-23s beat Coventry City on Monday.
However, another absentee, Marco Matias, was not mentioned at Thursday’s press conference, despite Luhukay’s prior hope of a post international break return for the Portuguese winger.
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