Wednesday to assess Hutchinson ahead of Huddersfield battle

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Sheffield Wednesday will check on Sam Hutchinson ahead of the Owls’ crunch tie against Huddersfield in the Championship play-off semi-final.

Hutchinson missed Sunday’s first-leg goalless draw at the John Smith’s Stadium with a knee injury but boss Carlos Carvalhal is confident he will be fit.

The Portuguese is not so optimistic about the fitness of Gary Hooper, who has a hamstring problem, though the striker is back in training.

Carvalhal is likely to adopt a more attacking strategy at Hillsborough after failing to produce at shot on target at Huddersfield as the Owls chase a win which will send them to Wembley for the second season running.

Goalkeeper Danny Ward is set to return to Huddersfield’s starting line-up.

The on-loan Liverpool stopper was banned for the first leg, with Joel Coleman keeping a clean sheet in his absence.

Terriers boss David Wagner insists Ward will come back into the XI provided he is able to overcome the bout of illness which prevented him from training on Monday.

Wagner has reported no new problems but remains without Philip Billing (knee), Kasey Palmer (hamstring) and Jon Gorenc Stankovic (knee).