Sheffield Wednesday v Reading - Lucas Joao back to wreak havoc on Owls

For his part, recently-appointed Owls manager Tony Pulis will be acutely aware that Reading striker Lucas Joao is just the sort of player whom he does not have at his disposal either.

A haul of nine Championship goals in 2020-21 from the in-form Portuguese, who left almost 16 months ago, eclipses Wednesday’s combined total of seven in 14 league matches.

The Owls’ total of three goals in seven home league games is the joint second-worst record in the Championship.

That said, only Middlesbrough have let in fewer goals at home than Wednesday’s total of four, with the Owls’ best hope tonight seeming to revolve around displaying similar resolution and taking a chance at the other end as they did in their 1-0 win over Bournemouth on November 3.

Pulis is not fooled. He is mindful the Owls must find a consistent goal threat to secure their primary aim of survival.

Pulis, whose side played out a 0-0 draw with former club Stoke City in his first home match in charge on Saturday, said: “Defensively, I thought we were good (on Saturday).

“But Kaz (Kadeem Harris) on the left-hand side looked our only threat during the game and we need more than that.

“We need to play games at this level and have more threat than that if we are going to win football matches.”

As is often the case when you take over a club who are struggling, luck has not exactly befriended Pulis in terms of the sides who he has faced at the start of his Hillsborough tenure.

That continues tonight when they tackle an upwardly-mobile Reading side before visiting high-flying Norwich City on Saturday.

It has crystallised the belief of the vastly-experienced Pulis that his latest role is a real ‘tough gig’.

The Welshman, 62, added: “It is tough. I knew it was going to be a tough one before I came to the football club; I had spoken to people.

“If you have a look, the chairman has spent over £350m on this club and the challenge is to try and help him as much as possible and stabilise and keep the ship pointing in the right direction.”

Last six games: Sheffield Wednesday LWDLDD; Reading LLLLDW.

Referee: O Langford (West Midlands).

Last game: Sheffield Wednesday 0 Reading 3, February 15, 2020; Championship.

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