Sheffield Wednesday get unexpected boost for upcoming fixture - who will miss out
Sheffield Wednesday’s upcoming fixture against Plymouth Argyle looks sure to go ahead.
Sheffield Wednesday’s upcoming clash against Plymouth Argyle will go ahead as expected despite the clash falling on a FIFA international round of fixtures - with an unexpected selection boost for the Owls confirmed.
It had been thought that the match would be under threat after the last break saw a host of Wednesday players called up to national duty, with games against Cambridge United and Stevenage ultimately having to be rearranged. EFL clubs are able to postpone matches if three or more senior players are away with their countries.
Of the four Wednesday figures that have featured enough this season to meet the threshold for postponement, injury to Ali Al-Hamadi saw him left out of the Iraq squad, while Harry Gray was a surprise exclusion from the England youth ranks. Kieran Morrison will head off for Nations League involvement with Northern Ireland.
Now, Tunisia have confirmed their squad for back-to-back AFCON qualifier matches against Libya, with Wednesday defender Yan Valery not included. The news means Valery will be able to play in the Argyle match - The Star has no reason to believe the former Southampton man has picked up any injury issue.
Absent for the visit of the Pilgrims will be Morrison as well as Jordi Liongola (Burundi), Sean Fusire (Zimbabwe) and Will Grainger (Wales u19s). The latter trio do not count towards the EFL’s tally of three given they haven’t featured enough for Wednesday in League One football this season. Jamaica have not included either Di’Shon Bernard or Jamal Lowe in their squad and both should be available for Plymouth.
The criteria reads in part: “For a player to count for the policy, they must be either named in the starting XI or be a named substitute making an appearance prior to the 75th minute, in either 50% of their Club’s first team matches OR in four of the last five first team matches.”
New Owls boss Dave Challinor told media last week that Wednesday were preparing for Plymouth to be played and on Friday the Pilgrims released away tickets for the fixture following conversations with the Owls.