Sheffield Wednesday head coach gives update on Leeds United loanee and three other players ahead of crunch Championship game with Stoke City

Poveda, who joined on loan from Leeds United at the end of the winter window, has shown tantalising glimpses of match-winning talent during his time at Hillsborough - only for injuries to muddy the waters.

He picked up a muscle injury in last month’s heavy defeat at Ipswich and after making his return from the bench in the Easter Monday loss at Middlesbrough, he lasted just 29 minutes after starting last weekend’s win at QPR - amid fears that the injury could be serious.

Rohl, whose side welcome Stoke City in a relegation six-pointer on Saturday, said: “I think with Ian, you have to look a little bit to the last (previous) four weeks.

"He had a muscle injury, then he starts and feels good and then dropped again down with this injury. It’s always difficult and this is the reason why it is very difficult to say if he can play one more game or not.

"At the moment, it’s a serious injury. But you never know, sometimes, it goes quicker. But at the moment, we have to look that he comes back healthy as soon as possible. But when the time is, I don’t know.”

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Ike Ugbo, who missed the weekend draw with Norwich City, Di’Shon Bernard - absent for the club’s last four matches - and Marvin Johnson, who has missed the recent games against QPR and Norwich, are continuing to be assessed, with their injuries not thought to be as significant as Poveda’s.

Asked whether the problems are not as serious as Poveda’s, Rohl added: “I think so, but I have to look tomorrow (Friday) at the training. Today, it was more individual recovery and we had three different groups and then tomorrow, we will see who is really available.

"But it looks better. Some players come back, but (as to) who is it? Let’s have a look and a step closer. Every 24 hours is helpful to us to come closer to the game.

"This is why I cannot say who is it, it’s more about looking tomorrow and who is fresh and ready and then we will see with more testing how strong they are and can they come back or not. I will get the feedback and then I will make a decision."