Match Pack: Sheffield Wednesday vs Saints

THE MATCH

Sheffield Wednesday vs Saints
Sky Bet Championship
Hillsborough Stadium
Friday 4th August, 8pm BST

THE OFFICIALS

Referee: Robert Madley
Assistants: Craig Taylor, Nigel Lugg
Fourth official: Josh Smith

WHAT KIT WILL SAINTS BE WEARING?

It's a first outing in competitive action for the new red and white stripped home kit, with black shorts and white socks.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Opportunity is in the air as a new season is upon us, 2023/24's curtain raiser seeing two sides enter a new division following contrasting fortunes last campaign.

Saints will be looking to put the disappointment of Premier League relegation behind them and start the Martin era in the best possible way with three points, avoiding any early upsets during the opening month.

Despite the jubilation of promotion from League One Sheffield Wednesday will also be looking for a positive start under a new manager; Xisco Muñoz taking the reins after Darren Moore's surprise dismissal.

Three points for the Owls at their Hillsborough home is exactly what the home crowd will be wanting, possibly expecting, but the travelling Saints fans filling up a sold out away end will be eager to see the very same.

TEAM NEWS

Manager Martin revealed to the media that he will bring a strong Saints side up to Sheffield, with Sékou Mara the only player with a question mark.

“Stuey [Armstrong] is back," confirmed the manager. "Joe Aribo’s back, Jan Bednarek’s back, so that’s really positive for us – three really good players and good characters who will help us, for sure.

“Kamaldeen’s injured, genuinely. He’s good, he’s been smiling, he has good energy, I really like him from what I’ve seen. It’s not a major one, but it would be madness to rush him back for the first game and compromise anything else."

Muñoz kept tight lipped about the injuries within his Sheffield Wednesday side, who have been boosted by a flurry of new signings in recent weeks.

Juan Delgado, Ashley Fletcher, Pol Valentin, Di'Shon Bernard and Reece James have all been added to the Owls' squad this summer.

THE MANAGERS

Russell Martin: "We’re really excited about the group. In a couple of positions it’s a really close call and you could probably play either or, but there are guys who have had more minutes, there are guys who are in a better condition to play the first game.

"The team we put out, we’ll be really happy and really comfortable with, as we will on the bench, and it’s our job to make sure when the transfer window closes we look even stronger than we do now.”

Xisco Muñoz: "Every day, we are more ready and the team is more of a team and the demands of my style are there more. I understand more every day.

"Always when you play against a good and strong team, we will try to give our best. But after the game, maybe they sell one, two or three players and it's totally different."

ONES TO WATCH

Charly Alcaraz: The Argentine made a habit during Saints' friendly games of appearing on the sweet spot at the edge of the box, just lacking the final shot which may have swayed the final result of the games.

Expect him to continue to pop up in that pocket, looking to continue his respectable returns record since signing for the club in January (6 goal involvements in 21 games).

Barry Bannan: Despite it being a summer of relative change off the pitch, the focal point of this Sheffield Wednesday side remains 33-year-old Barry Bannan.

With 19 goal involvements in 48 games last campaign, the Owls skipper will be at the centre of everything positive for Friday's hosts.

HEAD TO HEAD

Played: 84
Sheffield Wednesday: 33
Draws: 24
Saints: 27

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

November 2022: Saints 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Ward-Prowse)
September 2012: Saints 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday (Rodriguez x2)
March 2011: Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Saints (Barnard)
April 2009: Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Saints
December 2008: Saints 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Wright-Phillips)

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