His outing in a 2-1 defeat by Lincoln came a week after he played for the first half of a 4-0 win against Bradford.

This gradual build-up is all part of the plan for the right back who suffered a serious ankle injury at Crystal Palace last December.

It remains unlikely that he will be plunged into the Sheffield derby so soon after a 10-month lay-off, especially with his replacement Tony McMahon on loan from Middlesbrough until November 15.

But it is still so far so good for Simek, who showed yesterday that he has not lost his competitive edge. He dumped his winger on the deck early in the second half and was booked for another foul on the same player a couple of minutes later.

It was another steady performance by the USA international with just a couple of glimpses of understandable rustiness.

A young Wednesday side - mostly the same line-up that beat Bradford's kids last week - gave a plucky display against an experienced and physically strong Lincoln team who included former Owls striker David Graham in midfield in a 4-5-1 formation.

Graham's only telling contributions were a low ball that set up his team's second goal for Kevin Gall in the 40th minute, and a ferocious shot that hit the bar before that.

Midfielder Stefan Oakes put away a splendid 30-yard free kick in the 20th minute.

But Wednesday fought back in the second half.

Rocky Lekaj slotted home his seventh goal in seven games this season after being put through by Kenny Lunt. Lekaj also had a couple of chances and sub Nathan Modest could have made it 2-2 near the end.

OWLS: O'Donnell; Simek (Wragg 64), McMenamin, Liversidge, L Lekaj; Harrison, Barnett, Lunt, R Lekaj; Hall (Modest 67), Palmer. Unused subs: Hadfield, N Wood, Stirrup.

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Owls Watch 08-09 - The Season So Far
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