Injured pair add to Sheffield Wednesday's problems

Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal gestures from the stands against Wolves while serving a one-game touchline ban (Picture: Steve Ellis).

Midfielder Barry Bannan and goalkeeper Keiren Westwood were both set to play in the game, but missed out with groin injuries picked up the day before.

Their absence was keenly felt by a squad already carrying injuries to seven first-team players.

Owls head coach Carlos Carvalhal said: “We prepared the team for this game with Bannan and Westwood to start, but they both had injuries (on Thursday).

“We gave them the time to  recover, but they had pains in the abdomen area and could not  play.

“We will see what happens over the next few days, we will have some scans, and maybe they will be okay, let’s see.

“We have almost a team out (through injury) at the moment. There were nine players out (against Wolves).”

Under-pressure Carvalhal reiterated his belief that he has a strong relationship with the club’s owners in the wake of Friday’s defeat, a sixth straight game without a victory, which after Saturday’s fixtures left the Owls 10 points adrift of the play-off spots and 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

On Saturday at Hillsborough they face Middlesbrough, who are also under-achieving this year.

Asked whether the play-offs remain a possibility, Carvalhal refused to rule out a push, adding: “We must continue to do what we did (on Friday).

“I believe next week we will  recover another player, during the next weeks we will recover more.

“I believe that when we will be ready, we will again be a strong team in the competition.”