This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Sheffield Wednesday manager Garry Monk has been handed a timely fitness boost with talisman forward Steven Fletcher in contention to make his eagerly-awaited return in Saturday's Championship game at Birmingham City, it has been confirmed on the club's official website.

Fletcher is top-scorer for the club with 12 goals so far this season, but has been sidelined since picking up a knee injury in the FA Cup win at Brighton in January, and has missed the Owls' last eight matches in all competitions, an absence that has coincided with a worrying downturn in form for Monk's side.

So just how much have the Owls missed Fletcher?

We discuss.........

Alfie Burns

“The fact that Monk’s side have won just once without him speaks volumes of how important Fletcher is to the system and how this team play.

“He’s a focal point if Monk wants his side to play that little bit more direct, whilst he was in decent goalscoring form before the setback.

“The hope will be that he can pick up where he left off and add to his 12 goals between now and the end of the season, as Wednesday find themselves in a little bit of a rut at the moment.

“However, Monk and his staff are going to have to be careful with the Scot; he’s not getting any younger and rushing him back after such a serious setback might be a foolish move.”

Can you score 100% in our Sheffield Wednesday quiz? Go on give it a go now!

Kris Smith

“They’ve missed him immensely over the past month, as their woeful dip in form has exemplified since the turn of the New Year.

“Fletcher is still the club’s top scorer on 12 league goals this season and they have not been able to replicate his touch in the final third in his absence.

“The next top scorers behind the Scottish international are Jacob Murphy and Atdhe Nuhiuboth on four goals apiece, which is nowhere near good enough.

“Fletcher won’t come back in and completely turn the Owls’ form around from relegation standard back to play-off worthy, but it’s a massive step closer to full strength for Garry Monk.”

Toby Wilding

"I think he's been a huge miss for Wednesday.

"You only have to look at their run of results since Fletcher's last appearance for the club to see how much trouble they find themselves in right now, and the return of the Scot ought to be a big boost for them.

"Goals have been a particular problem for Garry Monk's side in recent weeks, so that finishing instinct possessed by Fletcher - which has been as effective this season as at any point in his career - will be a significant asset for them when he is brought back into the side.

"However, given the importance Fletcher has to this team, they will have to be careful about reintroducing him to the fold, since they will not want to aggravate that injury and put him back on the sidelines long-term, which would only exacerbate the problems at Hillsborough at the minute."