Owls chief demands 100% effort against Cats

Sheffield Wednesday have been told to be wary of relegation-threatened Sunderland at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.

The Black Cats climbed off the foot of the Championship table with Friday night’s much needed 4-1 win at Derby, lifting spirits for today’s crucial clash.

Wednesday beat Preston by the same score to move 10 points above the drop zone but are not safe yet, and boss Jos Luhukay demands that there are no signs of complacency.

Luhukay admitted that the Owls’ Easter games against Preston and Sunderland coming so close together meant that he had also been pre- paring for the trip to Wearside during the international break.

“I have in the beginning of the week watched Preston videos but (Sunderland too) in the last few days because I know how important these two games are,” Luhukay told the Sheffield Star.

“I see a team that doesn’t give up.

“They know they are not in a positive situation, but I see character and they are fighting.

“I don’t go and think because they are (near the bottom) we can play on 60% to win. In the Championship, you have to always be 100%.

“We have only had two games so I have had to have a plan. We only had two days so I had to think about Sunderland too. We know what we want to do. With five games in two weeks, my job is to look ahead.” George Boyd will come back into the reckoning for Wednesday after being left out against Preston at Hillsborough.

Luhukay admitted there was no injury problem concerning Boyd, but the boss merely chose other players – something he has largely been unable to do since he took over, due to the injury problems in the squad.

Sam Hutchinson and Barry Bannan are available, though there are doubts over whether the latter could start two games in quick succession having just returned from injury. Luhukay said: “I have three or four questions for Monday (over selection) and every player has the chance to be in the first XI.”