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Helan banned for Owls

Sheffield Wednesday will be without suspended on-loan midfielder Jeremy Helan for their third-round FA Cup tie against MK Dons.

The Manchester City player was shown two yellow cards in the recent draw at Huddersfield, but the first one was wrongly recorded by referee Mick Russell as Michail Antonio and Helan was not sent off.

Wednesday's subsequent appeal against Antonio's booking was upheld by the FA and Helan now serves a one-game ban.

Manager Dave Jones, who hinted at several changes, could be tempted to rest David Prutton and Rhys McCabe and turn to a trio of midfielders with Jermaine Johnson, Paul Corry and Chris Lines all vying for recalls.

Stephen Bywater is also hoping to return in goal in place of Chris Kirkland and although striker Mamady Sidibe has been given permission to play by parent club Stoke, Chris Maguire is back in contention.

Defender Reda Johnson, who missed the New Year's Day defeat to Burnley, is doubtful due to a foot injury.

Dean Bowditch looks set to join MK Dons' long list of absentees.

Bowditch was forced off at half-time with a groin injury in the league win at Notts County on New Year's Day and the forward is expected to miss out.

Izale McLeod, who re-signed for the club on Thursday, will not be available for the third-round tie at Hillsborough.

The Dons are awaiting ratification from the Football Association as to when the striker - the club's all-time leading goalscorer - can make his second debut.

McLeod, released by Portsmouth on Monday, collected a one-match suspension in his final appearance for Pompey.

The Dons have asked for written clarification on whether he will serve the ban this weekend, which manager Karl Robinson would probably prefer as McLeod is cup-tied and therefore ineligible against the Owls anyway.

Angelo Balanta (QPR), Ibra Sekajja (Crystal Palace) and Zeli Ismail (Wolves) have all completed their loan spells at stadium:mk and returned to their parent clubs.

George Baldock (hamstring), Tom Flanagan (broken foot) and Jabo Ibehre (abdominal) have returned from loan spells elsewhere but are all injured.

Right-back Jon Otsemobor is still nursing a groin injury, while midfielders Stephen Gleeson (broken foot) and Luke Chadwick (knee) remain long term casualties.

One shred of good news for Robinson is that on-loan Brighton midfielder Ryan Harley, impressive when making his debut against Notts County three days ago, is allowed to play in the FA Cup.

Source: PA

Source: PA