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Sheffield Wednesday v Preston North End: Young Owl on a roller-coaster
MIDFIELDER Sean McAllister insists that Sheffield Wednesday have the quality to cope with mounting injury problems and push for this season's play-offs.
Only two games into the new campaign, the Owls have already lost defender Richard Hinds with a broken leg and striker Akpo Sodje with a serious knee injury.
With Frank Simek, Francis Jeffers and Wade Small also sidelined, the cash-strapped Owls managed to find the funds to make an emergency loan signing this week in the shape of Middlesbrough defender Tony McMahon.
But the challenge facing manager Brian Laws remains immense; no money available for permanent signings, only 16 senior players at his disposal and, worryingly – amid fears that the proposed takeover could take longer than anticipated – the likelihood that the club will remain crippled by a debt of 27m for the forseeable future.
McAllister, a home-grown player who secured a new deal in the summer, shrugged: "The season has been a roller-coaster ride already – we are going from the highs to the lows.
"It is a thin squad but, even with the injuries, I still believe we have enough quality to get results. We have the quality to achieve a top half finish and, if we get there, even try to push towards the play-offs come the end of the season."
After opening the season with an impressive home win over Burnley, the Owls came crashing back to earth with defeats against League Two neighbours Rotherham United, in the Carling Cup, and Wolves in the Championship last weekend.
Speaking ahead of today's home game, McAllister said: "I guess we just caved in against Wolves and should have stuck together a bit more. We had one bad half and one thing just led to another. We have to put that out of our heads now and go into the Preston game looking for a win. We know they will be tough as they have a 100 per cent record so far but we will have good crowd behind us and we want to turn Hillsborough into a fortress."
Buoyed by a show of faith from his manager, the 21-year-old's battling displays are keeping Jimmy Smith, a summer loan signing from Chelsea, on the bench.
"There is obviously a lot of competition for midfield places but I have got the shirt at the moment and its up to me to keep hold of it," said McAllister. "The manager always said I would get my opportunity and I won't give my place up without a fight."
Preston, who finished just one point above the Owls last season, arrive at Hillsborough on the back of impressive victories over Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace. Striker Neil Mellor was born in Sheffield and is the son of former Owls player Ian Mellor.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
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