Sheffield Wednesday v Palace

Hillsborough, Wednesday 7.45pm

Full start for Gray?

Team news

Following the 3-3 draw against Watford last weekend, Palace will be looking to improve in the defensive department but carry on scoring goals against The Owls.

Matt Clarke is due to go under the surgeon's knife so Alex Kolinko will once again start in goal. Youngster Lance Cronin could be on the bench again unless Palace secure the services of American keeper Ian Feuer.

Captain Craig Fleming was substituted during Saturday’s draw at Vicarage Road however he should be fit and ready for action in time for Wednesday night.

Young winger Julian Gray could finally be back in contention for a starting place following a long lay off.

If this were the case, he would slot into the left hand side of midfield with Danny Butterfield possibly moving to the centre replacing Stevie Thomson alongside Hayden Mullins. This would leave young starlet Wayne Routledge out on the right wing.

Another midfielder returning from injury is Finnish international Aki Riihilahti however he is likely to only take up a place on the bench.

Sheffield Wednesday are currently lying third from bottom having picked up a very poor eight points from their first nine games of the season.

Boss Terry Yorath will have various decisions to make ahead of Palace’s visit to Hillsborough. His main dilemma is that of the strike partnership. Dutchman Gerald Sibon was expected to be out for three weeks with ligament damage however he is back in training and in contention for a starting place.

Meanwhile, Lloyd Owusu is looking to make his full Owls’ debut however Yorath is likely to start with Matt Hamshaw and Shefki Kuqi (who is recovering from a bruised hip) up front, with Leon Knight being moved out wide.

Wedsnesday have a large number of injury problems with Simon Donnelly, Phil O'Donnell, Steven Haslam and Ian Hendon all doubtful to make the starting line up.

Sheffield Wednesday - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
22nd	9	1	5	3	8

Full league table

Sheffield Wednesday - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
5	2	3	0	6	3

Full form table

Our away record v Sheffield Wednesday

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
21	3	4	14	17	40

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
02/02/2002	League	Sheffield Wednesday	1 - 3	Crystal Palace
10/10/2001	League Cup	Sheffield Wednesday	2 - 2	Crystal Palace
29/09/2001	League	Crystal Palace	4 - 1	Sheffield Wednesday
14/04/2001	League	Sheffield Wednesday	4 - 1	Crystal Palace
04/11/2000	League	Crystal Palace	4 - 1	Sheffield Wednesday

All time results

One to watch

Shefki Kuqi

Sheffield Wednesday's top scorer

Kuqi - 3 goals

Sheffield Wednesday's bad boy

Sibon - 1 1

Palace old boys

None.

The former Stockport hitman became an instant Owls favourite after his £1 million signing with his strong play, his ability to attack down the wings and his sure-footed eye for goal. Already netting three times this season, the Finland international is pivotal for the Sheffield club if they are to drag themselves away from the foot of the table and with Sibon out heavy expectations fall on Kuqi's shoulders. Definitely a force to be reckoned with on Wednesday.

Probable line-up

	Johnson	Freedman
Gray	Butterfield	Mullins	Routledge
Granville	Popovic	Powell	Fleming
Clarke

Last meeting

Sheffield Wednesday 1-3 Palace

Saturday February 02 2002

Sheffield Wednesday: Heald, Broomes, Haslam, Westwood (Geary 45), Bromby, Kuqi, McLaren, Soltvedt, Quinn (Hamshaw 59), Ekoku, Sibon (Bonvin 71).

Subs not used: Roberts, Maddix.

Goal: Ekoku 43.

Bookings: Broomes, Quinn.

Palace: Kolinko, Smith (Kirovski 45), Austin, Murphy, Fleming, Granville, Rodger, Riihilahti, Gray (Berhalter 45), Freedman, Morrison.

Subs not used: Clarke, Black, Kabba.

Goals: Morrison 31, Freedman 35, Smith 37.