Game time will help Connor Wickham and co. get back to their best at Sheffield Wednesday

However, boss Garry Monk believes the striker will benefit from getting more game time over the course of the next few weeks.

Wickham has made five appearances in an Owls shirt since making a third loan switch to Hillsborough – two of those from the bench – and is yet to find the net.

But the manager is expecting the 26-year-old, and a few others who are perhaps lacking some sharpness, to improve with each match.

“There's a few in the squad where game time and minutes (are needed), because they are not at their full fitness,” he said ahead of Saturday’s clash with Derby County.

“Connor, Fernando (Forestieri) is looking much fitter and where we would like him to be which is good.

“We have Josh (Windass) who we brought in, Alessio (Da Cruz)... as you would expect when you are bringing players in, they are not players who are coming off the back of 30-40 games in a row.

“The market we were looking in were players who hadn’t been playing. Training and minutes was something that will help them.

“The main focus is on whichever team we select we need to try and build some momentum.”

Garry Monk is to wait before deciding whether or not Steven Fletcher is fit enough for a start against Derby. Otherwise the front pairing of Forestieri and Wickham, who began in the win over Charlton on Wednesday, could kick things off again.