Tom Lees and Glenn Loovens are ready to return to the heart of Wednesday’s defence for Friday night’s important clash at home to play-off rivals Reading.
Lees has been out for six weeks with a knee injury before resuming full training last week while Loovens limped off towards the end of the defeat at Villa last weekend.
However, Carlos Carvalhal confirmed that both players are ready to play against Reading.
The head coach would not be drawn on the condition of Wednesday’s other injured players – including key men in Fernando Forestieri and Sam Hutchinson.
We are still in the final play-off place after Lucas Joao’s late equaliser for Blackburn at Fulham on Tuesday evening denied the London side the chance to move above us. Opponents Reading are two points ahead of us, so we go into the game knowing that victory would take us above Jaap Stam’s side and into fifth position.