Why promotion-winner Reece James is back at Sheffield Wednesday

There is a familiar face in Sheffield Wednesday's XI against Accrington Stanley this afternoon - that of Reece James.

The 32-year-old played a crucial role in the Owls’ last promotion out of League One, spending the 2022/23 season on loan with the club under Darren Moore before signing on a permanent basis a year later.

Now, having left Rotherham United a few weeks back, James is on the lookout for a new club once again, and has spent this week training at Middlewood Road with Henrik Pedersen and his troops.

While it’s being billed as a training exercise that’s mutually beneficial - just like with Cameron Dawson - given the Owls’ lack of options at left back, it’d be no surprise to see him up for consideration if he manages to impress.

There are first outings for Connal Trueman and Mason Burstow as Pedersen’s men take on Accrington, while James starts at left back on the opposite side to the returning Yan Valery.

Elsewhere, Liam Cooper is back in the XI after his injury alongside Ernie Weaver, while Jarvis Thornton and Denny Oliver start in midfield. Harry Gray, Will Grainger and Charlie McNeill make up the rest of the XI.

Interestingly, highly-rated Owls youngster, Tom Streets, makes the bench as back up to Trueman, while there’s also a spot for Joel Martin after he signed on at Wednesday after impressing on trial.

This game gets underway at 12:30pm, followed by a different SWFC XI taking on Oldham Athletic at 4pm.

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