Simek ready to return

While the Owls have spent their break getting players fit and in the right frame of mind, Simek could have been away with the USA had he not been under treatment.

He regrets missing his international duty and rejects the view that it could be a blessing in disguise for him and the Owls as it kept him clear of further injury risk.

"I'd play every day; I don't feel like a I need a rest right now," said the defender who would have been in the USA squad to face Switzerland in Basle on Wednesday.

"It would have been another chance for me to work with the national team and impress the right people."

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He was in the squad for a game against Brazil in Chicago last month.

Simek had to go off in the Owls' match at Watford because of ankle and knee injuries suffered in a challenge with the Hornets' muscular centre-back, Dan Shittu, and sat out the last game against Leicester City.

But he has missed only a handful of matches in more than two years with Wednesday.

""I've been quite lucky with injuries," he said. "Hopefully I can get myself fit for Saturday.

"I wanted to carry on at Watford, but it was painful. I couldn't run or jump or anything.

"There's nothing worse than sitting on the sidelines, especially if the team is struggling."

Wednesday boss Brian Laws didn't have to worry over either Deon Burton or Jermaine Johnson after confusion over Jamaica's game which was eventually called off.

The Owls refused to release them because of initial confusion over the match against Ghana. A plan to stage the fixture at Leyton Orient yesterday was scuppered by the police, then a switch to Ghana on Wednesday was scrapped.