The Owls will arrive looking for just a second league win of the campaign
Henrik Pedersen’s side held City to a 2-2 draw at Hillsborough on Boxing Day(Image: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Sheffield Wednesday head coach Henrik Pedersen says Hull City’s front three is their biggest threat, and something the Owls will need to stop when the pair meet at the MKM Stadium on Saturday.
Pedersen knows full well the threat posed by the Tigers after conceding two against City on Boxing Day, but will also know where his side can hurt Sergej Jakirovic’s play-off-hopefuls after twice netting in the 2-2 draw at Hillsborough.
Oli McBurnie, Joe Gelhardt and Kyle Joseph have 47 goal involvements between them, while Lewis Koumas and Liam Millar have chipped in with eight between them, helping the Tigers to 59 goals from their 38 matches.
For much of the season, City were the league’s second top goalscorers behind leaders Coventry City, and Pedersen is acutely aware of the threats posed by the Tigers, who will be desperate to go into the international break on the back of a 10th home win.
City come into the game on the back of a 3-0 drubbing at West Brom last weekend, while Wednesday’s winless run was extended to 32 games with a late 2-0 home loss to Ipswich Town.
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It remains to be seen how Jakirovic will line up in the final third, though McBurnie and Gelhardt will be two of the forward line charged with propelling City to a crucial victory in their quest to secure a top-six finish.
“Hull (City) is a very intensive team, a strong, strong pressing team,” the Owls boss said on the eve of the trip to East Yorkshire. “They have done a lot in the 4-3-3, and now they have also done it with a back five and back three. They are very, very aggressive in this part, and the biggest strength is the offensive transition with the front three.
“Here, there is a lot of speed, a lot of quality, and then it’s generally a very direct team. It’s a physical tough game, I’m sure we can expect and a very transitional game, a very vertical game, so it will be an intensive day.”
The beleaguered Owls, who have not tasted victory since winning at Portsmouth in September, and have taken just one point from a possible 45, will welcome back experienced defender Max Lowe.
Lowe hasn’t played since late December owing to a calf problem and comes back into contention for the clash against City, though it’s unlikely he’ll start the game, while Sean Fusire is available despite pulling out of Zimbabwe’s squad.
“Yes, he’s back available… It’s fantastic, Max has been a very important part of the last few years, and of course, it’s a big asset to the squad that he’s back again,” the Dane added.
“Firstly, he’s strong for the culture, and that means something with regards to him being back in daily training and dressing room. But also for our backline, it’s a good asset to put in, so we can change things a little bit. It’s all positive.”
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