O'CONNOR SET FOR OWLS DEBUT

Jeffers - misses out.

James O'Connor will make his debut for Sheffield Wednesday against former club Burnley on the opening day.

O'Connor, released from Turf Moor in the summer, will line-up in midfield for the Owls at Hillsborough, but fellow new signing Jimmy Smith and striker Francis Jeffers will miss out.

Jeffers, who missed a large chunk of last season due to a serious ankle injury, and Smith, signed from Chelsea on loan until January, are expected to make their first appearances against Rotherham in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

Manager Brian Laws must decide who to pair in attack, but fit-again Akpo Sodje and Deon Burton are favourites to start against Burnley.

Defender Frank Simek has not yet returned to full fitness following an ankle operation and Peter Gilbert sits out the last game of a three-match ban carried over from last season.

Burnley manager Owen Coyle has an almost full-strength squad available for the Championship opener.

Defender Clarke Carlisle is suspended but Coyle has no other concerns and should give debuts to a number of players.

Striker Martin Paterson, left-back Christian Kalvenes, goalkeeper Diego Penny and midfielders Kevin McDonald, Remco van der Schaaf and Chris Eagles all signed for the Clarets during the summer.

Coyle said: "Everybody's had an opportunity in pre-season.

"There will be one or two that, because of the nature of the competition, it will be difficult to leave them out, but we'll pick the best team available to us for Sheffield Wednesday and take it from there.

"When you're on that pitch wearing that Burnley jersey it's up to you to convince me and the rest of our staff that you should be in the team."