Injury boost could offer selection dilemma for Sheffield Wednesday in monster Nottingham Forest clash

There’s a space to fill at the heart of Sheffield Wednesday’s defence, with Tom Lees’ injury coming at an awful time for the side heading into the killer end of a difficult season.
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Wednesday welcome Nottingham Forest to Hillsborough tomorrow knowing they must better Derby County’s result at Swansea to stay in with a chance of survival and will be without their talismanic vice-captain.

The Owls started their season with an excess of central defenders but without Lees have looked light given long-term injuries to Dominic Iorfa and Aden Flint, who returned to Cardiff in January.

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But photos released from their Middlewood Road training ground yesterday appeared to show Chey Dunkley back in full training after an extended lay-off, while Joost van Aken is approaching a return to fitness.

Sheffield Wednesday face another important clash this weekend.Sheffield Wednesday face another important clash this weekend.
Sheffield Wednesday face another important clash this weekend.

It may well be that youngster Osaze Urhoghide is given the responsibility in their final two matches.

“He’s done well, Osaze,” club captain Barry Bannan told The Star. “He’s still a young boy who will make mistakes, he’s still trying to learn the game.

“He’s got attributes that suit the modern day game to perfection, but he wants to work, he wants to learn, which is a good thing. If he keeps going the way he’s going and keeps improving, he’ll have a good career in the game.”

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Hugely talented, Urhoghide has only played 19 league appearances in his career and asked whether he feels the youngster has the temperment needed to play in such high-pressure environment, Bannan had little doubt.

“His personality is great,” he said. “He wants to improve and he’ll listen to everything you’ll tell him.

“The thing is at that age, they’re fearless really. When I was that age you just want to play football and it’s like when you’re growing up as a kid playing with your mates, you forget your surroundings an everything that’s going on at that age.

“As you start to get older, you start to feel the pressure a bit more but at that age you’re riding a wave.

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“That will stand him in good stead in these last two games if he is selected.”

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