Sheffield Wednesday: Carvalhal keeps Owls guessing

Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal is keeping his players guessing over whether they will have Christmas Day off.
Carlos CarvalhalCarlos Carvalhal
Carlos Carvalhal

The Owls, lying in seventh position after 22 matches, will lock horns with Birmingham City on Boxing Day seeking to extend their unbeaten Hillsborough run to 10 matches in all competitions.

Two days later, Wednesday travel to table-topping Middlesbrough, who boast the meanest defence in the division, having conceded just two goals in their own backyard.

Carvalhal, embarking on his first season in English football, is a big family man himself but has yet to inform his squad whether they will have to report for training as usual on Friday morning.

The Portuguese told The Star: “I will discuss it with the captain of the team (Glenn Loovens) this week.

“It is an important day for them and their families but, at the same time, I want to get the balance right between training and enjoying the day.”

Should Wednesday pick up maximum points against eighth-placed Birmingham, Carvalhal’s men could move up to sixth as we approach the half-way point in the season.

Carvalhal is pleased with the progress the Owls have made under him. Wednesday, who have significantly freshened up their first-team squad, bringing in 16 new faces since last June, are five points better off than they were at this stage last campaign.