Owls players hoping Gray is ‘given shot’ at job

The caretaker chief, who has overseen a steady upturn in fortune and guided the Owls away from the Championship’s relegation zone, was expected to be handed the job by chairman Milan Mandaric this week.

However, a planned get-together between the two yesterday was shelved due to Mandaric’s business commitments.

This means Gray is likely to still be in temporary charge of the weekend derby at home to Leeds United.

Kirkland said: “Speaking from the dressing room, we would all like Stuart to get it. We think he has done a great job.

“He has brought the group together and we have had some great results under him.

“I think the lads would really like him to get it. but, you know the way football is, it is the chairman’s decision.”

Gray, a member of Dave Jones’s coaching staff after arriving late in 2012, took charge of Wednesday for the first time in the 2-1 home win over Leicester City.

Since then, he has overseen two more league victories – against Watford and Blackpool – and two draws to move the Owls up to fifth bottom.

Kirkland added: “When we were struggling this time last year, Dave brought Stuart in and he was a major part in us staying up then.

“Hopefully, the chairman will give him a shot.”

Sheffield United’s FA Cup fourth-round tie with either Fulham or Norwich City has been selected for live transmission by BT Sport.

The Blades, who pulled off the giant-killing act of the third round by beating Aston Villa, will discover the identity of their opposition next week when the Premier League duo replay.

The fourth-round tie will now take place on Sunday, January 26, 1pm.

Other ties that will be shown live on BT Sport will be Arsenal v Coventry (Jan 24, 7.45pm) and Stevenage v Everton (Jan 25, 5.30pm).

ITV, meanwhile, will show Bournemouth or Burton v Liverpool on the Saturday lunchtime and Chelsea v Stoke City on Sunday at 3.30pm.

Hull City’s goalkeeper Eldin 
Jakupovic has joined Leyton Orient on a month’s loan.

The Switzerland international fell down the Tigers’ pecking order last summer following the arrival of Steve Harper, from Newcastle, and is yet to make an appearance this term.

Jakupovic played nine times in Hull’s promotion success of 2012-13.