Jeffers spent two years with the Addicks following a £2.6m move from Arsenal in summer 2004, but started only nine league games due to injuries.

The one-time England striker is working his way back to full fitness with the Owls after a
12-month injury nightmare at Hillsborough, but Laws does not want to push the 27-year-old player too quickly.

After back-to-back appearances as a first-team substitute, Jeffers played 70 minutes and scored his first goal of the season in a midweek reserve team victory over Walsall.

Laws said: "Franny wants to start, but we have to make a more observed decision. We have got to bide our time because we want him back for good.

"Everybody recognises that he is a good player with talent and his confidence is growing with every touch of the ball – but we are not going to throw him back in because he is not ready for that just yet."

The Owls travelled to London yesterday and stayed overnight in a hotel after the criticisms of the way the side prepared for the last away trip to Reading, which ended in a 6-0 defeat.

"It doesn't guarantee a result, but you want to go into a game knowing that your body feels good," said Laws. "If it was necessary, we would have gone down there days ago to be prepared. There will be no excuses for a lacklustre performance this time around."