Sheffield Wednesday aren’t the only side heading into this weekend’s South Yorkshire derby with an injury juggle.

Doncaster Rovers boss Grant McCann is hoping to welcome important players back to his side for the visit of Sheffield Wednesday this weekend.

The Northern Irishman saw his side lose 2-0 to pace-setting Stockport County on Tuesday evening, while Wednesday fell to the same scoreline on a chastening evening at struggling Notts County. This weekend’s match-up feels like an important one for both sides. Rovers are 19th in League One having rallied in recent weeks but have now lost two on the spin.

The hosts will hope to be stronger in numbers, with full-backs Jamie Sterry and Jack Senior approaching contention. Aston Villa loanee Tommi O’Reilly, who entered into advanced talks with Wednesday over the summer before the two parties parted ways, missed the Stockport clash but could feature this weekend.

“We had 10 players missing tonight which is big for every team,” McCann told our sister paper the Free Press following defeat to the Hatters. “Particularly for our side and our budget and stuff like that so it's tough. Josh (Clarke, back-up keeper) has had an injection in his finger so we'll see how he is. Tom Nixon's got a tight calf.

“Tommi O'Reilly and Jordan Thomas are both ill. But Jamie Sterry and Jack Senior have both trained the last few days. so we just want to build them up. I'd love them back because they're the two best full backs in the league in my opinion. Let's see, James Husband also ran today.”

Through a combination of injury and suspension, Wednesday saw Di’Shon Bernard, Callum Slattery and Jamal Lowe added to the unavailability list thanks to a brutal evening at Meadow Lane. Sil Swinkels is approaching fitness, while Max Lowe may be considered for a start after returning in back-to-back substitute appearances.

Pressed on the likelihood of the returning players being able to play a part against the Owls, McCann continued: “I don't know, it's always a risk isn't it? It's when we need to take this risk, risk them back and get them in. It's difficult because Jamie and Jack are desperate to get back but when they come back and we want to keep them back.”