Sheffield Wednesday’s Tom Lees a unlikely to feature in match against Millwall

Sheffield Wednesday could be without captain Tom Lees for the second match in a row after manager Steve Bruce confirmed the defender is a doubt for Tuesday’s trip to Millwall.
Owls pair of skipper Tom Lees and Jordan Thorniley. Pic Steve Ellis.Owls pair of skipper Tom Lees and Jordan Thorniley. Pic Steve Ellis.
Owls pair of skipper Tom Lees and Jordan Thorniley. Pic Steve Ellis.

Lees was a surprise absence from the team sheet before Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Reading at Hillsborough, with Jordan Thorniley filling in next to Michael Hector at centre-back.

Speaking after that match, Bruce revealed that Lees had sustained a cut in a “freak accident” in training after being caught by the stud of a team mate on Friday.

Owls pair of skipper Tom Lees and Jordan Thorniley. Pic Steve Ellis.Owls pair of skipper Tom Lees and Jordan Thorniley. Pic Steve Ellis.
Owls pair of skipper Tom Lees and Jordan Thorniley. Pic Steve Ellis.
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And as expected, Lees is unlikely to feature in tomorrow’s trip to The Den.

"I do not think he will make it,” Bruce said. “He has improved dramatically, as you normally do with a cut, but I do not think he is going to be involved.”

The Owls boss was quick to praise his defensive unit as they picked up yet another clean sheet at the match against Reading, with Thorniley’s performance in particular leaving a lasting impression on the former Manchester United defender.

Bruce said: "He (Thorniley) did very well and the reports I have got back from the lads in the past few weeks is that he could feel harshily done by, by not being in the team as he has done well.

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"It is good that the kid has come in and done well. And he will have it all on tomorrow night, that is for sure, as we will need our centre backs to be at our best as we know what Millwall are going to throw at us.

"I think what helps is that the personnel has stayed familiar. You need your team to defend, it is not just the back four defensively.

“The stucture is what the guys have worked on. When you are struggling and have lost your manager and are up against it, the first thing you have to do is arguably the easiest is to shut up shop and not give much away and stop getting beat as it is an awful habit to get into.”

Wednesday travel to London defending a record of five clean sheets in their last seven matches, with the team 11 points off the play-off places.