Sheffield Wednesday recap: Barry Bannan's fitness, Sunderland and Harlee Dean's situation - from Darren Moore
and live on Freeview channel 276
It’s set to be a tough affair over two legs for the Owls and Black Cats, with both sides desperate to take a step closer to Wembley – starting with Friday night’s game at the Stadium of Light.
The opposition manager, Alex Neil, spoke to the press this morning where he discussed Nathan Broadhead’s fitness, potential Bannan mind games, and the size of the two clubs and now it’s over to his Wednesday counterpart to have his conversations.
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Hide AdYou can follow the whole thing live, right here on our Owls blog, for all the updates that come in the build up to the game.
If you have any questions, you can get in touch with our Wednesday writers, Alex Miller and Joe Crann, on Twitter – and they'll see what they can do.
Sunderland v Sheffield Wednesday LIVE - Darren Moore talks to the media
Key Events
- The Owls face Sunderland on Friday night
- Barry Bannan’s fitness is a doubt
- The Black Cats will be out to use home advantage
DM on League One battle
Both clubs have had the remit of getting out... I think this is Sunderland’s fourth in the league, and we dropped in last season. You can’t take League One for granted just because a team is a bit of a heavyeight. We’re down to the backend, the play-offs, and you’ve got two big teams who will go to battle. We’ll focus on the first leg at Sunderland.
DM on Sunderland
I think Alex has done a great job there since coming in. He’s brought a blend and continuity to them, and they’re in good form. We know the magnitude of the game, the importance of it, and we know that it’s two very good teams going head to head.
DM on Bannan
We’ll see today... We’re not training until later today, so I’ll only know after that. We’ll know more then. We’ve been looking after him and nursing him all week. He’s an experience individual at his age - but there’s a risk with any players when they take to the field. So we’ll wait and see with him.
While you’re waiting...
Here’s a bit of what the opposition manager, Alex Neil, had to say this morning...
'He'll be fit' - Sunderland boss makes Bannan claim as Wednesday sweat on captain's fitness
Barry Bannan will be available for Sheffield Wednesday – that’s the opinion of Sunderland’ Alex Neil, anyway.
Good afternoon!
It’s tomorrow, folks...
This time tomorrow people will be on their way from Sheffield up to the North East to watch Darren Moore’s Sheffield Wednesday go into battle with Sunderland in what is expected to be a packed out Stadium of Light.
Wednesday and Sunderland finished fourth and fifth in League One to reach this point, and both will be eager to get off to a good start on Friday ahead of the second leg on Monday evening.
Today we speak to the Owls boss for updates from Middlewood Road, most notably whether Barry Bannan will be available, whether there are any other concerns, and what he thinks of the Black Cats.
You can follow along live, right here.