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Owls defence crisis
BRIAN Laws begins the countdown to the Sheffield derby by pondering a possible loan signing to solve a defence crisis.
Tommy Spurr faces a long-term absence owing to the ankle injury he suffered in the 4-0 defeat at Plymouth.
Captain Richard Wood (groin) and Peter Gilbert (hamstring) missed the Home Park defeat.
Laws will assess Wood and Gilbert this week before deciding whether a move into the loan market is imperative.
The Owls were already stretched defensively, with Richard Hinds (ankle) out for months and Frankie Simek (ankle) not yet ready for a first-team return, though he is due to play for some part of tomorrow's reserve game against Bradford at Stocksbridge (7pm).
Laws has already had to make one emergency signing, bringing in Middles-brough's Tony McMahon after Hinds was injured.
The Wednesday boss feels that a fortnight's break before the city derby on October 19 will allow extra time for certain players to get fit but he is worried by the lack of defence cover.
"Fingers crossed, Richard Wood and Peter Gilbert will be fit for the derby, but we'll have to assess things," said Laws, who recalled Mark Beevers on Saturday and drafted Steve Watson into the back four.
Once again, he had no senior defenders available to be selected on the bench.
Spurr, who left Home Park on crutches, could be out for many weeks and is believed to have suffered ligament damage. He had to go off in the 82nd minute after being hurt in a tackle, which left the team down to 10 men.
Plymouth 4 v Owls 0: CLICK HERE FOR MATCH REPORT AND PICTURES
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Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light snow
Temperature: -6 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
