Sheffield Wed. vs Preston North End - Forestieri back in contention

Posted Thursday, March 29, 2018 by PA

Striker Fernando Forestieri will return to the Sheffield Wednesday squad for the first time since August for Friday’s Sky Bet Championship game against Preston.

Forestieri, who has made only three senior appearances all season after undergoing knee surgery, played for the club’s Under-23s on Monday and is in manager Jos Luhukay’s thoughts for the holiday weekend.

Keeper Keiren Westwood is also back in training after recovering from a groin injury which has sidelined him since December, while striker Atdhe Nuhiu returned from international duty with Kosovo unscathed.

However, Gary Hooper was due to see a specialist in London over his groin problem on Thursday, while Kieran Lee will miss the rest of the season with a hip injury, joining fellow midfielder Sean Clare (ankle) on the long-term casualty list.

Preston boss Alex Neil has few injury problems ahead of the trip to Hillsborough.

Defender Greg Cunningham missed the 2-0 victory at Sunderland last time out and the Republic of Ireland’s friendly in Turkey because with a tight hamstring, and he will be assessed.

Josh Earl took Cunningham’s place at the Stadium of Light in one of three changes to the side which had suffered a heartbreaking last-gasp home defeat to Fulham a week earlier.

Striker Sean Maguire, who won his second senior Ireland cap last Friday evening, has seven goals in as many games for his club, who head into the weekend just two points adrift of the play-off places.