Leeds United will resume their Championship promotion charge on Sunday when they welcome Yorkshire neighbours Sheffield Wednesday to Elland Road.
Given the Whites have not lost on home soil since mid-September, Daniel Farke’s men will fancy their chances of claiming the local bragging rights. They triumphed in the reverse fixture after goals either side of half-time from Brenden Aaronson and Daniel James.
But the Owls have got their eyes sight firmly on securing a top-six finish. They are currently in 10th position, three points outside of the play-offs after a mixed festive period.
Wednesday coach Danny Röhl will definitely be without the services of Dominic Iorfa. The centre-back suffered a muscular injury in their recent home draw with Millwall. Iorfa is not expected to return to action until March.
Centre-half is an area where the Owls are thin on options as Akin Famewo is also a long-term absentee. Full-backs Yan Valery and Max Lowe have frequently lined up in Röhl’s three-man defence.
Röhl is optimistic wing back Marvin Johnson will be available for selection. The left-sided player has not figured in their past matches due to a muscle problem sustained in the New Year’s Day win over Derby County.
Wednesday enter the clash on the back of losing to Coventry City on penalties in the FA Cup. “It’s hard to take as a team to lose this way,” said Röhl. “It was a strong performance. We had good opportunities. We were always in the game. But we could not find the final pass
“We have a belief. We never give up. We go for 120 minutes. We wanted to win. Set-pieces have cost us a lot of games and it has happened again to us.”
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