Three Nottingham Forest players who could potentially get in Sheffield Wednesday’s team

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The Reds travel to Hillsborough in the Championship on Saturday.

Just over two years ago, Nottingham Forest travelled to Sheffield Wednesday as the unbeaten Championship leaders, with the Owls tucked inside the division’s top half.

At that moment in time, it was hard to envisage Wednesday getting their hands on any of Forest’s best players, especially having surrendered Michail Antonio to the Reds only weeks earlier.

As it transpired, Forest had suffered a severe false start. In the end, Stuart Pearce’s side, who had harboured serious promotion hopes before the campaign began, ended it in 14th place – one behind Stuart Gray’s Owls.

In terms of league position at least, last season was much of the same for the team from Trentside, while Wednesday, transformed by the arrival of new head coach Carlos Carvalhal, narrowly missed out on promotion by virtue of a 1-0 defeat to Hull City in the play-off final at Wembley.

With the Owls now considered one of the division’s top sides – on their day at least – Forest’s stars are by no means out of reach. But would any of them get in at Hillsborough?

Here’s three who might – if pushed…

Britt Assombalonga

With Oliver Burke gone, the striker is Forest’s main asset. Assombalonga’s minutes per goal ratio this season is 41. Wednesday’s Gary Hooper is the closest to that – but still not very – at 189.5.

Danny Fox

Had Wednesday not signed Urby Emanuelson or Adam Reach, who can also play left-back, then Fox would have been a solid addition as competition for Daniel Pudil. The 30-year-old is statistically better than the Czech in terms of won tackles, successful interceptions and blocked crosses (all per game) this season.

Hildeberto Pereira

The Benfica loanee boasts an attribute which Wednesday currently lack: pace. Pereira is literally rapid, and has registered more assists (okay, one) than any Owls full-back so far.