West Brom v Sheffield Wednesday: Inside track on the Owls

We spoke with Alex Miller, Sheffield Wednesday writer at the Sheffield Star, to get a proper look at Garry Monk's side.

See what he had to say here...

How's the season gone so far for Wednesday? They obviously had a very turbulent Summer given the controversy surrounding Steve Bruce's exit.

All things considered, the season is going very well.

After Bruce's impact last season, the sense of optimism throughout the summer was massive and the feeling was that a promotion push was achievable again.

But Bruce left with less than three weeks to go to the season and Lee Bullen did a great job as caretaker boss, steering the side fairly seamlessly into the Monk era.

They're just outside the play-offs after a rough couple of weeks leading into the international break and should be happy enough.

What have you made of Garry Monk so far? Does he seem like the right appointment?

What was clear is that Monk was not the club's first choice.

He was available throughout the process and Bullen held the reins for six weeks while high-profile advances for Chris Hughton and the Cowley brothers came and went.

But Monk has done a fine job, making true on his promises to shore up the defence and instil a more competitive mentality in a squad battle-scarred from previous campaigns.

He has the support of the fans and the feeling is that if he sticks around - something he is yet to do in a five-year management career - he has the potential to build something at Hillsborough.

What would you say the expectations are at Hillsborough this season and why?

The ambition at Sheffield Wednesday will always be promotion to the Premier League.

A club of Wednesday's size should not go 19 years without top tier football and there's pressure building every year for the Owls to make the leap.

And for all the transfer embargoes, managerial departures and EFL charges, the feeling is that a play-off place is well within reach - notwithstanding the potential points deduction hanging over the club.

Who are the big threats in Wednesday's ranks?

Wednesday haven't exactly been devastating going forward this season, but in Steven Fletcher they have a forward who knows his way around the division better than most.

He's gone six without a goal now but has hit the woodwork in the last three - it feels like a goal is all he needs to get going again.

Barry Bannan is well-known throughout the league and has a Premier League delivery on his day, and left-winger Kadeem Harris has torn teams apart this season with his pace.

Are there any injury issues going on at the moment with the Owls?

Skipper Tom Lees returned from a ten-week spell on the sidelines just before the international break, replacing Julian Borner, who missed out with a virus.

Massimo Luongo, a real bright spark in the middle of midfield, could miss out with what was initially believed to be a minor ankle knock almost a month ago.

Aside from that - and as far as we know - the first team squad is in a clean bill of health.

What's your predicted XI?

Monk has chopped and changed a few times this season and a lot depends on Luongo's fitness.

I'll plump he goes for a 4-5-1 formation with Westwood in goal, Palmer, Borner, Iorfa and Fox at the back, Hutchinson, Bannan and Lee in a midfielder three with Harris and Reach supporting Fletcher.

What have you made of West Brom from afar? Do you think they have what it takes to gain promotion to the Premier League?

West Brom lost goals over the summer and in all honesty it's been a surprise to see how well they've shaken that off.

No team really looks like running away with it this season but it seems like it will be the Baggies and Leeds that battle it out for the title - why not?

Your match prediction?

Wednesday have had their hiccups on the road this season and West Brom is about as tough as they could have got after the international break.

A draw would be a good result, you feel and with that in mind I'll go for a 0-0 thriller.

You can keep track of Alex and his work here...