Irvine lines up Sodje cover as Owls wait on transfer embargo

The Nigerian international is already training with the Owls after returning from a spell in Greek football and it is understood that he is keen to join the League One club.

Irvine, however, is unable to sign anyone until the Football League has lifted the embargo put in place following the club's failure to meet payments to the taxman.

Sodje, 31, is the elder brother of striker Akpo who spent three, albeit injury-plagued seasons with the Owls before being released this summer.

He played Premier League football with Reading four years ago and also helped Leeds United qualify for the League One play-offs during a loan spell at Elland Road.

After leaving Charlton Athletic at the end of last season, he spent a month with Greek club Skoda Xanthi but soon returned to England and was on trial at Portsmouth.

With centre-back Mark Beevers ruled out for two months by an ankle injury, and captain Darren Purse one yellow card away from suspension, Irvine fears he may be caught short in central defence over the next few weeks.

A lack of match fitness prevented Sodje playing for the Owls reserves against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night but his availability remains of interest to Irvine in the club's current situation.

The Owls, who have debts in the region of 30m, are due back in the High Court on November 17 to fight the latest winding-up petition over unpaid tax of 600,000.

That debt will be cleared by a promised 2m cash injection from prospective new owners – but, if that fails to materialise, the threat of administration may once again raise its ugly head.

Chairman Howard Wilkinson expressed 'cautious optimism' when revealing news of the cash injection last weekend but, as yet, nothing more has been publically confirmed.

The identity of the proposed investors is also a closely guarded secret, although former Owls manager and goalkeeper Chris Turner is part of a consortium with links to the oil business and sat in the directors' box at the club's last two home games.