One major doubt for Sheffield Wednesday’s clash with Portsmouth – new twosome fighting fit
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The Owls have tallied as one of the division’s foremost promotion favourites but will have their work cut out against a Pompey side with similar ambitions.
And after a gruelling pre-season schedule, Moore is grateful for having nearly an entire changing room to chose from – aside from Callum Paterson.
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“By all accounts we’ve got everyone available,” he said. “The only one that took a knock in training was Callum Paterson, so we don’t think he’ll be available. We’ll check him in the morning, but he may not be available.
“The last thing you want in pre-season is any serious knocks and the rest of the main group have come through training all fine and well. Hopefully we don’t get any hiccups in the night and everybody arrives ready to go for the game tomorrow.”
A handful of players missed one or two of the club’s pre-season friendlies this summer and have been placed on individual programmes to accelerate their return to full fitness.
Moore is satisfied the likes of new boys Will Vaulks and Michael Smith – two of the few that have sat out of run-outs – are sat on a level playing field in terms of their fitness levels and will be involved in tomorrow’s Hillsborough clash.
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Hide AdThe return of both players kicks things off as the club will mean to go on this season, with huge competition for starting spots both in midfield and attack.
“Smith and Vaulks were two of the players that picked up little strains in pre-season,” he said. “Both of them had about 10 days out and we didn’t take the risk with them.
“I was pleased at how they were able to join back up with the group and the rest of the squad. That was a careful decision made, not to push them too far too soon.
“We feel where they are at now, it’s good, they’re training and back at it and they’ll be part of the squad.”