Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to continue their push for the play-offs when they face a struggling Gillingham side at Hillsborough on Saturday.

The 15:00 GMT kick off will take place at the same time as MK Dons face Cambridge United, a fixture in which Owls fans will be hoping the hosts drop points to end the day as close to the top six as possible.

Oxford United’s trip to face Ipswich Town is a game Wednesday will also have a keen eye on.

Gillingham will be hoping to get their first win since October 19 in all competitions to put themselves in a more comfortable position in the table, as Steve Evans’ side look to avoid a relegation scrap.

Team news

Sheffield Wednesday 

George Byers and Massimo Luongo are both available for The Owls after spells on the side-lines, but neither are expected to start in this encounter. They returned to first team action on Tuesday night, as Wednesday saw off Harrogate Town with a 4-0 win.

Darren Moore will be forced to change his keeper for the game, as Bailey Peacock-Farrell is away on international duty with Northern Ireland. Peacock-Farrell, who arrived from Burnley on loan in the summer, is expected to be replaced by Joe Wildsmith.

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Josh Windass, who was the club’s top goal scorer last season, has returned to contact training but is not expected to feature at Hillsborough tomorrow.

Gillingham

Gillingham have had a difficult season injury wise, and with Robbie McKenzie, Rhys Bennett and Ryan Jackson all doubts following the GillsFA Cup game against Cheltenham Town last week, the injury list is not looking any prettier for Steve Evans.

Max Ehmer also picked up a knock in the Cheltenham game but is still expected to play.

Despite this, Mustapha Carayol is expected to return from illness and Stuart O’Keefe is available for The Gills having been out for the last two weeks with a hamstring injury.  

Predicted lineups

Sheffield Wednesday (3-4-1-2):

Wildsmith, Palmer, Dunkley, Johnson, Paterson, Adeniran, Wing, Corbeanu, Bannan, Kamberi, Gregory.

Gillingham (4-3-1-2)

Cumming, Lintott, Ehmer, Tucker, Akehurst, O’Keefe, Reeves, Lloyd, Dempsey, Oliver, Akinde.

Form guide

Sheffield Wednesday

The Owls come into this game in eighth place in the league, and Darren Moore’s side haven’t lost since their 0-2 loss against Oxford on October 2.

That said, a run of five draws in their last seven games in all competitions has been very damaging to Wednesday’ chances of climbing the table. Moore will be hoping their empathic 3-0 win against Sunderland last time out in the league will be a big step towards turning draws into wins for the South Yorkshire club.

Gillingham

It has been a difficult time for The Gills, who are winless in their last four games in all competitions, the visitors have only won one game in their last nine outings.

Gillingham’s last two games have both ended in draws however, with a goalless draw against Accrington Stanley and then 1-1 against Cheltenham in the FA Cup last time out.

Ones to watch

Lee Gregory

The striker’s six goals in all competitions make him the top goal scorer for the club, he will be looking to capitalise on Gillingham’s poor form as of late on Saturday.

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Vadaine Oliver

Gillingham’s top goal scorer also has six goals to his name for the season so far in all competitions. He could well be starved of service playing for the underdogs away from home, but when Gillingham are in possession, Oliver will be seen as their biggest threat.

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Previous meetings

This is the first time the two sides have faced each other since 2003, when Gillingham ran out comprehensive winners in a 4-1 victory in the FA Cup.

The overall head-to-head favours the visitors. In all competitions, The Owls have won on six occasions, there have been six draws and Gillingham have been the victors seven times in meetups between the two teams.

Where to watch

Sheffield Wednesday and Gillingham fans based in the UK and Ireland can use iFollow on both clubs’ websites and pay £2.50 for an audio match pass to listen to live updates from the game.

Fans of either club based outside of the UK & Ireland will be able to use the iFollow service to watch a live stream of the game.

Highlights will be available from the game by the end of the day at the latest.

What the managers have said

Speaking before the game, Gillingham boss Steve Evans made the claim that he once turned down the job to manage Sheffield Wednesday, citing his previous ties with local rivals Rotherham United as his main reason for rejecting The Owls’ advances.

He said: “Milan Mandaric met me in London and wanted me to go but I think there is a saying in Yorkshire, ‘Once a Miller always a Miller’.”

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