Sheffield Wednesday team news: Surgery decision looming on key midfielder
Sheffield Wednesday are waiting to find out if Svante Ingelsson needs knee surgery now, or if the midfielder can battle through the final three matches of the season.
Ingelsson has a meniscus problem which makes him a "big doubt" for Saturday's penultimate home game of the season, against Charlton Athletic but the implications are wider than just that for a player whose contract expires in the summer, but who the Owls have the option to keep longer.
"He has some problem with the meniscus and we'll see," said manager Henrik Pedersen. "We're waiting for the last result for how we can do it through the last games.
"We're waiting for the last (information) if he needs a surgery or not in the season or shortly after the season.
"We will see tomorrow (Saturday) how it is and then we will make the next step in the coming days."
Ingelsson has played in all but two of Wednesday's Championship season, 39 from the start.
The Owls have the option to extended his contract by a further 12 months in the summer, but all such decisions will have to wait until David Storch's proposed takeover is completed, something the American hopes will have happened by May 1, the penultimate day of the season.
The Swede will be in demand in the summer, with Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder having spoken glowingly about him before and after February’s Steel City derby.
Ingelsson apart, Pedersen picks from a full squad against the Addicks, with Dominic Iorfa set to return from compassionate leave after his wife gave birth last week.
With four games to play, the Owls are on minus four points for the season. With relegation confirmed in February, their big targets now are to avoid being relegated with minus points and to avoid going a whole season without winning at home. Both would be unprecedented in English league football.