Laws had expected the injury-plagued former Everton and Arsenal striker to be fit to return at the start of the season after successful ankle surgery. Now a groin stroin is delaying his comeback, prompting many Wednesday fans to dismiss the one-time £8m man as a write-off at 27.

But Owls boss Laws – who has seen Jeffers start only nine games in over a year at Hillsborough – hopes he can help the player by acting as a shield.

He said: "We pushed Franny to the limit to get him fit – maybe we pushed him too far. The ankle is fine and the groin strain is not his fault. He shouldn't be far off now but I'm not going to put a date on it because that only adds more pressure and grows a huge question mark. All I'm saying is that he'll get there."

Laws is having to balance his need of a proven goalscorer with the greater imperative to have Jeffers fully and finally ready to offer a lasting contribution. Currently, the absence of Akpo Sodje and Leon Clarke's continuing struggle to make an impact is loading all the burden on to old faithfuls Deon Burton and Marcus Tudgay.

But Laws' greatest worry has been the threat of losing one of his defensive assets and the value of retaining skipper Richard Wood, who was vigorously pursued by Coventry, cannot be overstated.

Wednesday held firm in the face of a fresh £1m plus bid that prompted the 23-year-old centre back to hand in a transfer request which was rejected. Crucially, Laws is confident that Wood – who has stood out as a player of good character – will not be affected by a potentially unsettling episode.

There were also rumours before the transfer window closed on Premiership clubs that Everton – whose interest has been mooted in the past – had moved to sign him.

However, chief executive Kaven Walker said: "I can categorically state that we had no approaches from Everton – and no approaches for any other player."

This, of course, is a reference to the rising stock of Mark Beevers and Tommy Spurr.



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