Preview: Sheffield Wednesday vs. Huddersfield Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town get their respective seasons underway with a meeting in the first round of the EFL Cup.

The two Yorkshire sides were rivals in the Championship last season, Huddersfield eventually surviving in the second tier as the Owls were relegated to League One.

Match preview

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In his short tenure at Hillsborough, Darren Moore has suffered relegation with Sheffield Wednesday and been required to recover from coronavirus before eventually returning to the touchline.

When also taking into account the club's financial turmoil, Moore would have been forgiven for walking away from the Owls, but he has instead taken on the challenge of trying to revive a fallen giant.

Moore and Wednesday have had to bide their time before making new signings as they prepare for one of the most competitive League One campaigns in recent years.

Nevertheless, the departures of many key players have been counteracted by the loan arrivals of Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Lewis Wing, players from Burnley and Middlesbrough who should be playing higher than the third tier.

While those signings are a statement of intent, the return of defender Jack Hunt could also prove key at a time when Wednesday desperately need to find some stability.

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The same can be said of their opponents who, while remaining in the Championship, have looked a shell of the club which earned promotion to the Premier League in 2017.

Carlos Corberan will feel fortunate to have been provided with a second campaign at the John Smith's Stadium, but he has been provided with the freedom to make much-needed changes to his squad.

Although the Spaniard has brought in a mixture of youth and experience, there is real excitement over the arrivals of Chelsea youngster Levi Colwill and Norwich City winger Daniel Sinani.

Both players may need time to settle to life in the EFL, but there is optimism that Corberan and his squad can only improve after finishing in 20th position last season.

Team News

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Moore will give consideration to naming the same players which edged out Port Vale in a friendly earlier this week.

However, Jaden Brown is in contention to feature against his former club, while Cheyenne Dunkley is an option in the centre of defence.

Meanwhile, Corberan could recall a number of Huddersfield players who only started as substitutes against Fleetwood Town.

Harry Toffolo, Matty Pearson, Jonathan Hogg, Lewis O'Brien, Scott High and Duane Holmes are all in contention for a starting role.

Jordan Rhodes is in line to play against the club that he departed in the summer, but Sinani may be kept in reserve.

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Peacock-Farrell; Hunt, Hutchinson, Iorfa, Palmer; Luongo, Adeniran, Wing; Green, Shodipo, Adedoyin

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Schofield; Pipa, Pearson, Sarr, Toffolo; High, Hogg, O'Brien; Koroma, Rhodes, Holmes

We say: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Huddersfield Town

Given the level of their signings this summer, this could prove to be an entertaining clash at Hillsborough. Ninety minutes may not be enough to separate these sides, leading us to predict a penalty-shootout triumph for the visitors.