Sheffield Wednesday’s start to the season has been impressive, with Jos Luhukay’s side looking to establish themselves in the race for the Sky Bet Championship’s play-offs.

Luhukay’s side sit in the top half of the table, narrowly outside the top-six at this early stage of the Championship season.

With fixtures coming every two or three days, the Owls know that by the end of next weekend they could be comfortably back in the top-six.

Their form has been even more impressive when you consider some of the important players on the sidelines, including Gary Hooper and Kieren Lee.

An update has been provided on that duo today by Luhukay, who has confirmed that the duo aren’t likely to feature until 2019, meaning they will have missed a year of football each.

After such a disappointing update on two influential players, we take a look at the reasons why Sheffield Wednesday’s play-off push could now be derailed…

Both Hooper and Lee were part of Carlos Carvalhal’s squad that finished in the top-six in consecutive years.

Of course, other players that were involved then are still around, but missing Hooper and Lee is a blow, as that duo were key components under Carvalhal.

The players currently replacing them don’t have that experience of a play-off push.

Hooper is amongst Sheffield Wednesday’s most creative forwards, who also has an eye for goal.

Whilst he influences and creates right at the top of the field, Lee is a link and very good at creating things from deep.

Wednesday’s problems at this moment are in defence, but there’s no doubt that their attack will be hindered by the absence of Hooper and Lee, which in turn, could leave them behind in the race for the top-six

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