Sheffield Wednesday: Why Garry Monk subbed Julian Börner at half-time in Birmingham City draw

The popular German, one of the Owls's standout performers this season since arriving on a free transfer from Arminia Bielefeld, made way for club captain Tom Lees at half-time in the Hillsborough tussle.

Börner was booked early on after a mistimed challenge on Jeremie Bela. It was his fifth yellow card of the season, meaning he will serve a one-match suspension and miss Saturday's trip to Charlton Athletic.

Monk said: “I just felt like him [Börner] receiving the yellow and then being on that tightrope so early in the game, and then that thought process with Tom – obviously with Julian going to be suspended for the next game – to get Tom onto that pitch and get him used to being on the pitch again, and all that.

“A combination of all of those things was the reason why I made the substitution."

Lees is in line to partner Dominic Iorfa at the heart of their defence against the 17th-placed Addicks. Sam Hutchinson, Fernando Forestieri and Atdhe Nuhiu are also pushing for starts as Wednesday chase a first away win in over two months.

"We will continue to work in training until we get things right," insisted Monk. "We have already proved this season at Middlesbrough that we can be clinical but we need to get back to that as soon as possible.”