Wednesday entertain sixth-placed Cambridge United looking to bounce back following successive away defeats against Notts County and Doncaster Rovers. Henrik Pedersen lost his job less than 24 hours after the Rovers debacle, having overseen a run of just one win in six matches.
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More than 29,000 fans are expected at Hillsborough and Liam Cooper has challenged himself and his team-mates to shoulder greater responsibility for Wednesday’s worrying dip in form. “We all have to stay together when you have a challenge,” said the experienced centre-back. “Now we have two (home) games and we have to stay all together and deliver.
“We have to fight to come into the fight. It’s a real fight. And here we have to be stronger in this battle, in this dogfight.
“Right now we have a problem in games where you (must) take this battle, this dogfight from the beginning. We have struggled here and this is primarily where we have to step up.”
Hamshaw, a highly respected coach and former Wednesday midfielder, is expected to shuffle the pack. Sil Swinkels, an unused substitute at Doncaster, could be handed his first start in two months and may slot in alongside Cooper at the heart of their defence. Yan Valery and Max Lowe look set to retain their places at full-back while Ashley Maynard-Brewer should continue in goal once again with Joe Lumley still sidelined by a rib injury.
Wednesday are boosted by the return of Callum Slattery from suspension. Although Slattery has often operated in the No 10 position, Hamshaw may decide to deploy him in a deeper role to provide greater control in possession. Billy Mitchell and Jaden Heskey are among those whose places could come under threat after disappointing displays in the South Yorkshire derby.
Assuming Wednesday stick with a 4-2-3-1 system, Kieran Morrison is likely to move back into his preferred role on the right flank after bizarrely lining up at left wing back last time out. Davis Keillor-Dunn remains at his most dangerous when given licence to roam behind the striker while Harry Gray is poised to return on the left wing. Gray knows Hamshaw well, having closely worked with him at Rotherham United last term.
Options are limited up front. Leading marksman Jamal Lowe serves the second of a three-match suspension, leaving Ali Al-Hamadi and Mason Burstow as the club’s recognised centre-forward options. Burstow made a positive impact from the bench at Doncaster, troubling the Rovers defence and going close on several occasions. He failed to nail down a regular starting spot under Pedersen but perhaps this is the moment where the Hull City loanee finally announces himself in a Wednesday shirt.
Predicted Owls XI vs Cambridge United (4-2-3-1): Maynard-Brewer; Valery, Swinkels, Cooper, M Lowe; Slattery, Bannan; Morrison, Keillor-Dunn, Gray; Burstow.
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Personally i don't think you can play DKD and Slattery in the same team as to do so you have to play one outside of their most effective position. My preference would be Heskey retains his place, Slattery in the 10 and Burstow up top. Burstow needs a goal to give him some confidence as he's a decent player.
Which of the 3 left footed defenders do you think will play on the right? Lowe is really better full back, so I think it’s between Cooper and Swinkles. Cooper can cope better out of position I would have thought plus if it is Swinkles first game back confidence could be shot playing out of position - we’ve seen that too many times. Why isn’t DKD considered a forward and play the front man as he has the best control that you need, looked a world beater against Wimbledon up top?