Bothroyd is recalled by Rangers as Jones targets fresh recruits

JAY Bothroyd will swap one relegation battle for another today as QPR plan to recall the striker from his loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday.

The one-time England striker has been a massive disappointment at Hillsborough during his four-month loan, scoring just one goal – in the Yorkshire derby with Leeds United – in 14 appearances.

He has not featured for the first team since the 4-1 home defeat to Watford in November due to injury, but is now back in training.

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A rejuvenated Owls have reaped 10 points from their last four games to pull away from the bottom three in the Championship, with manager Dave Jones opting for fellow loan striker Mamady Sidibe, Gary Madine, Chris O’Grady and Michail Antonio to fill the striking roles.

Now new Rangers manager Harry Redknapp wants 30-year-old Bothroyd back at Loftus Road, with the West London side marooned at the bottom of the Premier League and struggling for goals.

QPR will call him back,” said Owls manager Dave Jones. “If you look at the position they are in, they will be looking for strikers and goalscorers.

“They are struggling and they aren’t going to help anybody else out when they are struggling themselves.

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“Jay hasn’t had the best of times here. He had a good spell and a bad spell, that can happen. He has all the ability in the world and should be applying his trade at the highest level. Sometimes, maybe work rate or attitude, he allows his disappointments to overtake what he should be doing.

“He gets down and disappointed because he has not performed well – or the people around him haven’t performed well – and he can lose focus.

“The people here didn’t see the best of Jay, not by a long way and I am sure he will agree with that.”

Jones and chairman Milan Mandaric are scheduled to meet after today’s game to discuss transfer targets in the January window, but the Owls’ hopes of bringing back Everton midfielder Ross Barkley seem to be fading.

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The 19-year-old netted four times in 12 games, a shining light in a poor run of results for Wednesday earlier this season, and Toffees manager David Moyes had suggested he could go back out on loan this month.

But Barkley is now in Everton’s first-team plans, and a return to the Championship looks slim.

“I will look at all good players if they are available, but there is nothing to say that he will be available because Ross is in Everton’s first team.

“He was a bit unfortunate here, because he is a super player. He is a young player with a lot of talent.

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“We are looking at many things, lots of targets, but you can guarantee 20 other clubs are looking at the same players,” said Jones.

“We are all looking for the same type of player, someone who will give you that final push. That means either looking at Championship players to buy, or Premier League players who aren’t in the team at the moment and looking for experience.

“I have got to generate (funds), anything that goes out I can use to bring back in and that has been the remit, that’s fine it isn’t a problem. At this moment in time we are cutting our cloth accordingly to get to where we want to be.

“There could be players going out, coming in, it all depends. You might have to wheel and deal, players here who want to go out on loan to play.”

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The Owls will be without left-back Reda Johnson today as he serves a one-match suspension for picking up his fifth booking of the season in the 0-0 draw at Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

But his likely replacement, Jeremy Helan can play despite the yellow card farce at Town which saw the Frenchman escape despite earning two yellow cards.

Referee Mick Russell booked Antonio for an alleged dive, when he should have shown the yellow card to Helan, who went on to collect another booking for a foul.

Jones said the Owls have appealed to the Football Association, claiming mistaken identity for the first yellow card. If Helan is judged to have collected two bookings, he could then face a one-match ban from the FA but he is free to play today.

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“We have appealed to the FA about mistaken identity and we have left it up to them now,” said Jones. “We feel the referee got the decision wrong, he booked Michail when he should have booked Jeremy. There can only be one repercussion, the boy will serve a one-game suspension for two yellow cards. They can’t replay the game. What do you replay, 11 men for 25 minutes?”

On the current run, he added: “The players feel good about themselves again, which was always the problem. It was about getting results on the board. If you get results and keep clean sheets it makes everybody happy.”

The Owls will be up against winger Keith Treacy today, who helped Wednesday to promotion last season but Jones was thwarted in making the deal permanent because of the high transfer fee wanted by the Turf Moor club.

Top scorer Charlie Austin is a major doubt for Burnley due to a gluteal problem.

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Martin Paterson came on for the 23-goal striker but Sam Vokes could also push for a start if Austin misses out. Defender Ben Mee remains sidelined.

Last six games: Sheffield Wednesday LLWWWD, Burnley DLDDWL.

Referee: D Webb (Lancs).

Last time: Sheffield Wednesday 4 Burnley 1, Championship, August 9 2008.

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