Sheffield Wednesday video: Opening-day lift for Owls striker Steven Fletcher

The Scottish international striker hasn't featured for the first team since being laid low by a knee problem last December.

But the 31-year-old, who has yet to play a competitive match under manager Jos Luhukay, has done enough in pre-season to earn a place in the matchday 18 for the DW Stadium clash against the newly-promoted Latics.

"Steven has come slowly back," Luhukay said. "Then he made minutes in friendly games and has come back to the team. The most important thing is that he feel himself that every day he will be stronger.

Fletcher, who appeared in a behind-closed-doors fixture at Bradford City on July 24 before coming on as second-half substitute against La Liga outfit Villarreal last Saturday, is likely to be on the bench.

"He's in the squad on Saturday," Luhukay said. "But I think he has been away too long from the team and games for 90 minutes."

Fletcher impressed during his cameo performance against Villarreal and came close to scoring in a 3-1 defeat

"The next step for Steven is to get Championship minutes," Luhukay said. "We have seen he is a striker who always tries to look where the goal is, that he can score goals."

New problem for Almen Abdi