Sheffield Wednesday have been handed some good news ahead of their game against Pompey on Saturday

Sheffield Wednesday have been handed a massive boost in the build-up to their game against Portsmouth.

The Owls are closing in on two new signings ahead of the Saturday fixture - and both are expected to be registered in time to feature in the Championship match against John Mousinho’s side.

Just days after Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen admitted his current injury crisis had led the club - who remain in administration - to reach out to the Football League for assistance, it’s emerged that the Hilllsborough outfit are on the brink of signing QPR keeper Murphy Cooper and Manchester City forward Jaden Heskey on loan.

Both fall under the two free loan signings that the Owls are permitted to reigster this month, with both QPR and City making the deals financially viable. But the signing of 24-year-old Cooper is considered particularly significant.

Up until his impending arrival, 19-year-old rookie Logan Stretch was being prepped to make his league debut for the cash-strapped Owls against the Blues. That’s after regular No1 and Northern Ireland international keeper Pierce Charles was ruled out for two months after suffering a shoulder injury in Saturday’s FA Cup defeat at the hands of Brentford.

Cooper’s arrival gives Wednesday some much-needed exprience between the post, with the Hoops shot-stopper making 28 appearances on loan at League One Barnsley over the first half of the season.

He’s also gained valuable senior experience on loan at Stevenage and Swindon in recent years, keeping 16 clean sheets for Boro during their 2024-25 season.

Heskey - the son of former Liverpool and Leicester striker Emil - is poised to join for the rest of the season as Pedersen looks to add goals to a side that has been struggling in that department this season.

Indeed, the Owls have managed just 18 in the Championship this season, with only Premier League Wolves (15) scoring fewer in England’s top four divisions. However, two of those came in Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Pompey at Fratton Park back in September - their only league win to date. Meanwhile, the Blues are the second-lowest scorers in the second tier with just 21 goals.

Twenty-year-old Heskey has featured nine times for Man City in Premier League 2 this season. He’s yet to find the back of the net for his parent club but registered three goals in that competition last season.

His move to Hillsborough represents his first loan away from the Ethihad Stadium.

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Injuries concerns ahead of Hillsborough contest

Like Wednesday, Pompey have their injury problems, too, going into Saturday’s game in South Yorkshire.

Head coach John Mousinho could have as many as nine players missing for the game. However, they have also received a couple of boosts in the build-up to the fixture.

Forward Millenic Alli has arrived on loan from Luton Town to help ease the pressure on the Blues’ attacking resources. Meanwhile, Pompey are closing in on the £500,000 signing of Derby midfielder Ebou Adams.

It’s not clear at this point, however, whether Adams will be registered in time to play at Hillsborough.

For your next Pompey read: Savage Portsmouth injury reality bites as academy hopes readied for Sheffield Wednesday