Carlos Carvalhal is looking for improvements at both ends of the pitch as Wednesday prepare for Saturday lunchtime’s Hillsborough clash with Barnsley.
With the Owls suffering four defeats in our last five Championship games, Carvalhal said: “If you ask me if I am happy with the number of goals we are scoring and the goals we are taking, we are not and we must do better.
“We must be more consistent on the defensive organisation, not the defence or the goalkeeper but all the team … and we must score more goals.
“We must improve both things in my opinion.”
He added: “On Saturday, we must continue to do what we did in the last game at Derby, with the same attitude, the same heart and if we can do better then fantastic.”
Carvalhal also said he finds out more about his players when the team goes through the type of bad period Wednesday are currently experiencing.
He said: “I will know who you really are when one of us has a problem. I will know what kind of player you are, what kind of fan you are and what kind of coach I am also.
“And what I like in this period is that my players give steps in front, they don’t hide.
“If you give a step in front and show your face, show your abilities and personality you will be better.
“My players have done this which is why I appreciated our fans after the game at Derby, applauding what they saw, and I appreciated a lot the reaction of my players.”
Sam Hutchinson looks unlikely to return to the starting line-up against Barnsley. He missed the defeat at Derby after suffering a bout of gastroenteritis and has been limited in training this week after suffering a knee problem.
Glenn Loovens is already ruled out as he serves his one-match ban, with Joost van Aken expected to return in his place. Jason Butterfield will also come back into contention after being ruled out of the Derby game, as agreed in his loan deal.
Looking longer-term on the injury front, Carlos Carvalhal says Fernando Forestieri continues to progress after his knee surgery and the head coach hopes he might be ready to return early in the New Year.