Sheffield Wednesday: Owls face anxious wait over top-scorer plus Hooper latest

Sheffield Wednesday will check on the fitness of top-scorer Fernando Forestieri tomorrow ahead of their clash at Reading.
Fernando ForestieriFernando Forestieri
Fernando Forestieri

Forestieri, named man of the match in the Owls’ win over Leeds United last week, was taken off in the closing stages of the Yorkshire derby due to an on-going knee problem.

The 11-goal forward left Hillsborough on crutches wearing a leg brace and head coach Carlos Carvalhal declined to give too much information away at his press briefing today.

“We will know exactly what Fernando and our other player’s position who are outside of the team will be tomorrow,” he said. “Let’s see. We have one more day.”

The Portuguese chief said he does not yet know the full extend of Joe Wildsmith’s back injury. The academy starlet picked up the knock against Bolton Wanderers, forcing him to miss their last fixture.

“We don’t know exactly,” he said. “I have a meeting with the doctor this afternoon.

“I can’t tell you whether it will be short or long term he will stay outside. At this moment, Joe is not training.”

Wednesday will be hoping first-choice shot-stopper Keiren Westwood (groin) will return following a lengthy lay-off.

Carvalhal, meanwhile, refused to comment on whether Gary Hooper will be returning to Hillsborough following a successful loan spell. The striker is back training at his parent club Norwich City, having claimed six goals in 13 Owls appearances.

It is understood the Canaries have accepted a £3m bid for Hooper and Wednesday are in talks with his representatives over personal terms.

“The reality is he’s gone back to Norwich,” he said. “Gary is not our player so I won’t say anything about the situation.”

Carvalhal also scotched reports linking them with a move for Blackburn Rovers forward Jordan Rhodes, insisting: “Everybody knows it’s a fantasy about this player.

“Do you think we have £10m-12 million to pay for a striker? It doesn’t make any sense. He’s a player who is completely out of our budget.

“We are doing everything with sense. We don’t have one of the biggest budgets of the Championship. There are teams who have invested more money than us. Everything we do is with good sense and economical.”