Sheffield Wednesday face a tough away encounter on Boxing Day, Monday 26th December, as the Owls travel to St James’ Park to take on Newcastle United.

This enthralling encounter will hopefully live up to be a Boxing Day classic. As the pick of the bunch amongst the Championship fixtures, this match is televised and scheduled to kick off at 19:45pm.

With Newcastle and Brighton firmly occupying the top two spots in the league, this is arguably the toughest game of the season for the Owls.

Without doubt, the Magpies will be favourites to take all three points. Anything more than a loss will be a welcomed belated Christmas present for everyone associated with Sheffield Wednesday.

Just over a year ago, September 2015, Wednesday beat Newcastle United 1-0 in the League Cup third round thanks to a 76th minute Lewis McGugan strike.

Following this victory on their previous encounter, Shoot!‘s Louis Shackshaft gives us five reasons why Sheffield Wednesday can take all three points against a strong Newcastle United side…

The Sunderland Curse

Quite astonishingly, Newcastle United have not beaten Sunderland in their last nine meetings.

The ‘Sunderland curse’ may pay dividends for Sheffield Wednesday, who have three former and one current Black Cat on their books.

Goalkeeper Keiren Westwood (Pictured) will definitely be looking to keep a clean sheet as he faces his former North East rivals, who established himself as first choice keeper in the Premier League.

Hopeful of hitting the back of the net will be Scottish striker Steven Fletcher, the Owls number six spent four years at Sunderland, scoring twenty three league goals.

Signing for Sunderland over ten years ago, Ross Wallace conjured up eight league goals in fifty three league games between 2006 and 2009.

Finally, Will Buckley, currently at Sheffield Wednesday on loan from Sunderland, what a dream come true it would be for him if he could find the net in any way shape or form, despite him most likely starting from the bench.

Forestieri Returns

Sheffield Wednesday’s trip to Newcastle will expect to see Fernando Forestieri return to the starting XI after serving a three-match suspension.

The Owls’ number 45 missed an away day to Reading earlier this month, plus two home South Yorkshire derby clashes against Barnsley and Rotherham United.

Regarded as the Owls’ most influential player, when on form, the little Argentine notched three goals in three games before being sent off in a home win against Preston North End.

The 5ft 7in forward has scored six goals in thirteen starts this season.

With two assists and two man of the match awards this term also, Forestieri gives the Wednesday faithful enough hope and encouragement that they can snatch all three points at St James’ Park.

Home Upset

If you had to pick a negative from Newcastle’s season so far, it would be the three home defeats to Huddersfield Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers respectively.

The Magpies went into all these three fixture as outright favourites, and rightly so.

However, both Wolves and Blackburn travelled to St James’ Park and not only managed to take all three points, but keep a clean sheet too.

This can only give everyone else in the league hope when they travel to the giants of the Championship.

Shelvey Suspension

Having played in every league encounter for the Magpies this season, Jonjo Shelvey has obviously become one of the first names on the team sheet under boss Rafael Benitez.

Shelvey, 24, will miss this tie due to a racial misconduct charge set by the FA and will start a five-game suspension on Boxing Day.

With ten goals and assists combined this campaign, Shelvey’s ban will only give the Owls a confidence boost ahead of this fixture.

Defensive Question Marks?

If you can master it, scoring more than you concede is sometimes the best mentality to have as a football manager or player.

Interestingly, Newcastle United currently rank 13th in goals conceded at home this season, 11 in total.

On the flip side to this argument, the Magpies have scored 23 goals at home, the best in the division.

In any case, defensive frailties are an area that Sheffield Wednesday need to exploit if they are to take any points away from this fixture.