The hosts will be buoyant after their 2-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers. The Owls meanwhile, are smarting from conceding two late, quick-fire goals which saw Norwich City snatch all three points.
A high-scoring clash this is unlikely to be, however, both sides will be yearning to hold the bragging rights in this Yorkshire derby. For sure, Sheffield Wednesday will be more desperate for a first victory for new manager Tony Pulis to edge them closer to Championship safety.
After facing four of the top six in his first five games in charge the next run of fixtures are looking more favourable for Pulis who must pick up points to see Wednesday head into the new year out of the drop zone.
A fourth straight home win for Huddersfield Town though could see them inch to within touching distance of the playoff places, after a commendable start to the season under young coach Carlos Corberan.
The 37-year-old is enjoying his first taste of being the main man after being the understudy by Marcello Bielsa at West Yorkshire rivals Leeds United, if he was to bring half as much success to the John Smith’s stadium as his tutor has to Elland Road then his tenure will be a huge success.
- Team news
Town boss Corberan is eagerly awaiting the results of Christopher Schindler’s scan, after picking up an injury against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
Fellow defenders Tommy Elphick (knee) and Richard Stearman (Hamstring) will remain sidelined for this one. Elsewhere, Romoney Crichlow and Álex Vallejo (Hamstring) have resumed first-team training after injuries.
Meanwhile, The Owls are slowly starting to see key players returning from injuries and suspensions. Massimo Luongo will be back after sitting out a one-match ban after accumulating five yellow cards.
Kieren Westwood will be out for another week with a groin strain he picked up against Swansea City. Joe Wildsmith is in good form however and will continue between the sticks. Centre back Chey Dunkley will hopefully play for the under 23’s in the coming weeks as he gets closer to a first-team debut.
- Predicted lineups
Huddersfield Town (4-3-3):
Hamer; Pipa, Edmonds-Green, Sarr, Toffolo; Eiting, Hogg, O’Brien; Mbenza, Campbell, Koroma.
Sheffield Wednesday (4-5-1):
Wildsmith; Iorfa, Lees, Börner, Van Aken; Harris, Paterson, Luongo, Bannan, Reach; Windass.
- Ones to watch
Harry Toffolo:
So far, a player of the season contender for Huddersfield Town fans. The-left-back, signed from Lincoln City by former manager Danny Cowley he is an attacking-minded full-back who will bomb forward at every opportunity. He’s built a fantastic relationship with Josh Koroma who has also flourished on the left-wing this campaign. Toffolo and Koroma have racked up seven assists combined and were both on target against QPR at the weekend. When Toffolo plays well, Huddersfield Town tend to play well.
Adam Reach:
The appointment of Tony Pulis has seen somewhat of a revival in Reach’s form and confidence. For months he became a bit-part player having next to no impact on games, his head seemed to be grazing the turf. But, after some words of encouragement form his new manager, Reach has a goal against Swansea and two assists, setting up Callum Paterson against Reading and Josh Windass against Norwich, both of which were enticing crosses into the danger area. Not only has his creativity improved but his all-round game has also benefited. Instead of looking isolated and disinterested out on the left, the former Middlesborough man is seeing a lot more of the ball, at times popping up more infield. Despite this, he is certainly at his most dangerous whipping in quality balls from deep out on the left if given any time and space.
- Previous meetings
The West Yorkshire outfit do hold the overall bragging rights over their South Yorkshire counterparts having won 25 of their 60 clashes to Wednesday’s 21. In recent years though Sheffield Wednesday have come out on top, and haven’t been beaten in normal time in this fixture since 2013. Although, The Terrier’s do of course have the memory of beating The Owls on penalties at Hillsborough in the 2017 play-off semi-final which saw them promoted to the Premier League after edging past Reading, also on penalties at Wembley.
