Sponsored by
Megson banks on Buxton for Tangerines tie
Injured: Lewis Buxton has a hamstring problem. picture: STEVE ELLIS
GARY Megson hopes right back Lewis Buxton will be passed fit to play in Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Blackpool to ease his defensive crisis.
The Sheffield Wednesday manager will be forced to make wholesale alterations to his starting line-up for the trip to Bloomfield Road as they look to reach the fifth round of the competition for a second successive season.
Megson decided to make five changes in the midweek victory at Scunthorpe United, one of which was leaving Buxton out.
The defender, a popular figure in Wednesday’s dressing room, made his first-team comeback after eight weeks out on the sidelines in the 2-2 draw with Hartlepool United last weekend.
Of Buxton, Megson said: “His hamstring felt tight. I’m hoping that [his absence] is just a precaution. He’s been out for such a long time, I would expect it to feel tight. Last Saturday was the first 90 minutes he’s had for two months.”
Megson is sweating over the fitness of multiple members of his squad for the clash with the Seasiders, who are in seventh position in the Championship. One area of his team where his options are severely limited is left back. Daniel Jones sustained a calf problem at Scunthorpe while Julian Bennett is still recovering from a shoulder injury. The former Nottingham Forest player is poised to have an injection in his shoulder.
Reda Johnson, who can operate at centre half or left back, remains a major doubt to feature at Blackpool because he has yet to shake off a back problem which forced him off against Hartlepool, meaning Megson may have not choice but to field Buxton or Jon Otsemobor as a makeshift left back.
With Miguel Llera cup-tied, having played in Britain’s oldest cup competition for Brentford this term, Wednesday will have to alter the centre of the defence. Captain Rob Jones is unlikely to be risked due to an ankle knock. His absence could see Mark Beevers, who came on as a 38th minute replacement for Daniel Jones, recalled in the middle.
Megson also has a decision to make over who should be included on his bench. New recruit Mike Jones, signed from Bury earlier this month, is ineligible.
Wednesday have sold out their ticket allocation for the Steel City derby next month. Twelve thousand five hundred were snapped up this week.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 21 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
Banter Blade
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 07:46 PMCalm down Chadders, you'll explode soon if you don't. My facts are correct. Could you point out the errors please? It's a rust bucket, you are proud of watching a big telly, Blades have tickets for the home ends at the Hillsborough derby, there's close to 50% of seats spare at your home games (when you are not playing a big club like Sheffield United that is). What did I get wrong?The fact that I think it is odd that you are proud of watching a big telly is my opinion and therefore not capable of being an error. Please enlighten me without calling me a name or using swear words. I bet you can't!
Dingle Dickie
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 04:31 PMChaddy - Not like you to hurl abuse at me. Come on, we're GV Old Boys aren't we? Actually, I don't know or care. I only started this lot yesterday to wind up the starstruck ' look at how massive we are' contributors, as I do from time to time. Moving on to summat else nar....
Chadwick Towers
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 04:21 PMDingle Dickhe4d...... Whilst I appreciate that you are trying to be controversial and nobody on here is paying much attention to you, what exactly IS your point???...........That a couple of you Blunts have helped swell the coffers at S6??...... Big wow wee!! I do hope that they make themselves known to the thousands upon thousands of home supporters that will be sat alongside them. That said, unless they are going to jump up and down excitedly when they get a throw in, I dare say they'll be sat on their trott....er, sorry, sat on their little pink hands most of the day.
Dingle Dickie
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 03:27 PMSorry, last comment aimed at #16...
Dingle Dickie
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 03:26 PM#14 - They're only doing it to get a ticket for Hilsboro. What reason do Owls supporters have for becoming members? No other benefits are there? Can't be for away games, as your priority season ticket holders must snap up all those. So, both Owls and Blades are paying an extra £20 to watch the match...
Silverlining
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 02:51 PM@ 15... So there's 'many' that have forked out 20 quid to become members at Wednesday are there? How stupid are they?!
Dingle Dickie
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 02:30 PM#13 - Not me old boy. We go to 90% of Utd's away games anyway, and my cupboard is stuffed full of the required Loyalty points. So unless we get an allocation of less than 500 somewhere, I can always get a ticket. But there are many who are Owls Members (and members at Leeds, and other places too) just to be in readiness for this sort of conumdrum...
lanzarote owl
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 01:56 PMOops double post
lanzarote owl
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 01:56 PMIf you are going to pay to be a member of the Massive then your hero worship of us knows no bounds!
lanzarote owl
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 01:51 PM@10 if you want to pay to become a member of the Mighty your hero worship of us Knows no bounds
Ivan Eddake
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 01:48 PMI've heard the piggy blades will be singing their new anthem - the old Neil Diamond and UB40 hit, 'Red Red Swine.'
Dingle Dickie
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 01:47 PM#9 - As I said yesterday, Blades all over Hillsboro. How hard has it been to become an Owls Member in the past?
lanzarote owl
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 01:42 PMAll home tickets sold out Yesterday afternoon. So a crowd bigger than the one at the Stain is guaranteed before the little piggies allotment go on sale!! It must be so down heartening following such a tiny club
Chadwick Towers
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 01:26 PMGormless Banter Blade....... your post is error strewn as would be expected. Get yer facts right before coming and posting on the big boys page!
Banter Blade
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 12:48 PMWhy are you guys so proud of your beam back? It's odd. There will be plenty of us watching the game at Hillsborough on all sides of the rust bucket. Now, if it was difficult to get a ticket at Hillsborough then maybe there would be a need for the TV. However, there's always plenty of room there no matter how massive your crowds are. Xxx
Page 1 of 2
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.