Carlos Carvalhal is expecting his Sheffield Wednesday side to come back stronger in the Sky Bet Championship following this week’s international break, reports the Sheffield Star.
Sheffield Wednesday have endured difficult start to the 2017/18 campaign, failing to find any real consistency, which has seen pressure mount on Carvalhal at Hillsborough.
However, a 3-0 victory over Leeds United last Sunday lifted some of the growing pressure on Carvalhal, as Wednesday moved to 12th and onto 16 points heading into this week’s international break.
Carvalhal is now expecting his side to return stronger following the international break, as a number of players currently on the injury list edge closer to a return.
Speaking about the upcoming international break and the opportunity to get players close to full fitness, Carvalhal said: “The international break is good to us.
“I believe after the international break we will comeback more strong because we will recover players.”
Sam Hutchinson, Almen Abdi and Glenn Loovens are three players who have been absent for a considerable length of time now, with the trio returning to full training in the last week, but not making the matchday squad against Leeds.
Carvalhal will expect to welcome back the trio against Bolton Wanderers following the international break, but there are doubts surrounding Keiren Westwood and Jack Hunt.
Westwood has been forced to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland squad due to a rib injury, whilst reports yesterday confirmed that Hunt would see a specialist over a knee injury picked up against Leeds.
The Verdict
Carvalhal will be extremely encouraged by Wednesday’s performance against Leeds before the international break, and the return of injured players will give the Wednesday boss even more optimism.
Hutchinson, Abdi and Loovens will add plenty of depth to key areas of Carvalhal’s squad, but the return of Westwood and Hunt will be absolutely vital.
Westwood is one of the Championship’s top goalkeepers, whilst Hunt continues to impress on the right side of defence.
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