Wednesday looking for Gardner and Johnson to return from injury

Gardner missed the midweek draw at Birmingham City with a thigh strain, while Johnson has missed several weeks with a foot injury.

But both could return tomorrow and will be assessed in training today at Middlewood Road as the Owls look to build on a recent record of just one defeat in 11 Championship games.

“We have three or four niggles and we will train on Friday and assess the situation before the game,” said manager Dave Jones. “All being well, everybody will be fit. Overall, we are in good shape for this stage of the season. We are fit, we are well, and we look strong and hard to beat.

“Competition for places certainly helps. I have always said that any team is only as good as its substitutes’ bench and we are seeing that here, we have some real quality on the bench.

“That can only be a good thing because without competition, you have nothing.”

Despite their recent fine form, Wednesday are just two points better off than Wolverhampton Wanderers who occupy the third and last relegation spot.

“A couple of months ago, a lot of people were saying it was a case of three from four in the relegation zone but you look at the table now and it could be three from as many as 12 to 14,” he said.

“It is so tight and congested down there and that is what you want; you need other teams to drop points while you keep ticking along.

“As I have said before, all we can do is concentrate on doing our own job and everything else will take care of itself.”

Former Owls loan striker Mamady Sidibe, 33, has joined League One side Tranmere Rovers on loan until the summer. He netted once in 10 games in his time at Hillsborough this season.