Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore has suggested that Sam Hutchinson will be assessed ahead of Saturday's clash with Bolton Wanderers, while he also updated on the condition of George Byers.
Hutchinson missed out on Sheffield Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Oxford United last weekend with him having been forced off the field 15 minutes from time in the Owls’ win at Wigan Athletic.
Moore made the decision not to risk playing Hutchinson in the Owls’ win against Mansfield Town in the Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday night with him instead given more time to recover from his recent injury setback.
Byers, meanwhile, has out of action with a groin strain recently and Moore confirmed to the media ahead of Sheffield Wednesday’s defeat against Oxford United that he needed more time to recover from that issue. However, he added that there was a chance he could return against Bolton.
Speaking to Yorkshire Live following the Owls’ win against Mansfield, Moore revealed that Hutchinson was not risked but that he expects him to train later in the week before being assessed ahead of the Bolton game.
He said: “He is fine. We expect him to train later on in the week.
“There was no need to risk him tonight. We juggled the back and left one or two of the senior players out. We didn't feel they were needed and we will bring them back in for the weekend.
“We will wait and see. We will assess him later on in the week.”
While on Byers’ current condition amid his injury recovery he added: “He was in good spirits on Tuesday and I will see him today.
“I will have a good chat with him to see where he is at. I believe he is back out on the training pitch with the sports science guys doing some running to get back to his full fitness.”
The verdict
Getting Hutchinson back to fitness for the Bolton game would be a major boost for Sheffield Wednesday because they might potentially need to think about returning him to the heart of their defence given the performance against Oxford.
Hutchinson is a crucial member of this squad and the Owls always miss his qualities when he is out injured and therefore Moore has been right to manage his condition in a sensible way. There was no point risking him against Oxford or Mansfield because they need to ensure he is fully fit before he returns.
Byers, meanwhile, will be frustrated to have suffered an injury setback at this stage in his Sheffield Wednesday career. The midfielder is still trying to prove his worth to the side but it seems from these comments from Moore that he might not be able to return for the Bolton game.
From the looks of these comments though, it should not be too much longer before Sheffield Wednesday can call upon both Hutchinson and Byers.