Wednesday’s three emergency loan signings will all be in contention for a place in the starting line-up for tomorrow’s S6 relegation showdown with near neighbours Barnsley.
With another six-pointer to follow 48 hours later at bottom club Bristol City, we go into the two games just one point and one place above the drop zone but knowing that wins against two fellow strugglers would see us take a massive step towards Championship survival.
Dave Jones says that all three loanee signings – Stuart Holden, Seyi Olofinjana and Steve Howard – will be considered for the squad against Barnsley … a game that will attract Hillsborough’s biggest crowd of the season, with an expected attendance of around 30,000.
Jones said of the match: “Both teams are in good form, both teams are fighting to stay in the division and both teams have good players, so it has all the the ingredients to be a good game.”
He added “It will be a battle because of what is at stake … there will be lots of nerves and lots of tension, with a big crowd and plenty of noise. That’s when you’ve got to step up and get on with it and that’s what I would expect of my lot.”
Jones also took the opportunity to praise the tremendous Wednesday fan base – both at Hillsborough and away from home. Referring back to the Barnsley clash, he said: “We’ll have a massive following at home, as always, we want them to get behind us and we want to give them something to cheer about.”