Jeffers set to return on Owls bench

SHEFFIELD Wednesday boss Brian Laws may decide against rushing Francis Jeffers back into the firing line.

The Owls boss is thought to be considering having the former Everton striker on the bench when they take on Preston North End at Deepdale on Saturday.

Jeffers came safely through 45 minutes with the reserves on Tuesday on his return from a calf strain.

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In that game, Jeffers lined up alongside Laws' other recent recruit, Akpo Sodje in a front line partnership that is clearly earmarked to be the first choice one at some stage.

However, Laws may decide to put a Jeffers starting return on hold although he will be in the squad.

He suffered the injury on opening day at Ipswich, missed the Carling Cup tie at Rotherham but then played against Wolves in the first home game on August 19 only to suffer a recurrence of the calf strain.

Sodje, who had 90 minutes in a private friendly last week, also played 45 minutes in the 5-1 reserves win at Grimsby and, together with the impact he made when going on as a substitute on debut against Bristol City, he could be in line to be pitched in at Preston.

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Laws also had Wade Small returning after injury this week to offer him additional options.

He could also be planning a back four role for Steve Watson who played in midfield against Bristol City.

Gary Megson, who was a candidate for the Wednesday job when Laws got it, is lined up as Leicester City's replacement for Martin Allen.

The former Wednesday midfielder is being tipped to be the choice of Leicester chairman Milan Mandaric as their next manager. Former Barnsley defender Gerry Taggart is likely to be Megson's No 2.

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Neil Warnock had been linked with the Leicester job but Mandaric denied that Warnock had turned it down.

Mandaric said: "He was never offered it and I have not spoken to him about the job at all. In fact, I believe he would be the wrong man for us."

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