Reading vs Sheffield Wednesday. Sky Bet Championship.
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Friday 24 November 2017 14:24, UK
Reading will have midfielder Joey van den Berg available again following suspension for the visit of Sheffield Wednesday.
Midfielder John Swift, though, is a doubt after he was forced off during the midweek draw at Bolton with a recurrence of a hamstring problem. Vito Mannone should be back in goal after missing the trip to the Macron Stadium for personal reasons and striker Yann Kermorgant (hip) is also expected be involved.
Forward Sam Smith has been carrying a knee problem, while winger Callum Harriott (hamstring) and midfielders George Evans (thigh) and Garath McCleary (groin) continue their rehabilitation along with Stephen Quinn and forward Joseph Mendes (both knee). Defender Jordan Obita is out for the season after surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament.
Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal is expected to choose from an unchanged squad. Carvalhal has no new injury or suspension worries following the midweek draw at Ipswich, while midfielder Ross Wallace recovered from illness in time to start in that match.
Striker Atdhe Nuhiu will be hoping to play a bigger role after stepping off the bench to score a late equaliser at Portman Road. Winger George Boyd (shoulder), midfielder Sam Hutchinson and striker Fernando Forestieri (both knee) remain sidelined.
Reading are unbeaten in five league matches against the Owls (W3 D2).
Sheffield Wednesday have lost six of their last eight away league matches against Reading (W1 D1).
The Royals have conceded exactly two goals in seven of their last nine games in the Championship (W3 D1 L5).
Gary Hooper has scored four goals in five previous league appearances against Reading.
Sheffield Wednesday striker Jordan Rhodes has faced Reading more often than any other Football League side without finding the net (seven games).
The Owls are unbeaten in five Championship fixtures (W2 D3), after losing four of the previous five (W1).
That comeback to draw at Bolton will have helped to lift a little bit of the pressure on Jaap Stam on Tuesday night, but Reading are still suffering a little from the burden of expectation after doing so well last season.
That being said, they'd expect to be doing a lot better than they are, and this will be another tough game for them. Sheffield Wednesday's late equaliser at Ipswich in midweek will have been a huge boost and I fancy them to carry that momentum into Saturday.
Prutton predicts: 1-2 (9/1 with Sky Bet)
