Sheffield Wednesday travel to face Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup first round, a fixture that falls just before the start of the League One season and forces manager Henrik Pedersen to weigh up fielding a strong side against the risk of injuries ahead of the opening league game against Leyton Orient. The match also offers a look at how several new signings and returning players are settling in before the campaign proper gets under way.

Summer signing Ricardo Santos and defender Liam Cooper have both recovered from knocks and are available for selection, while Cole McGhee faces around four months out after shoulder surgery and Di'Shon Bernard remains sidelined, with a possible return in the under-21s side in mid-September. New arrival Billy Mitchell will miss the Bolton tie with an ankle injury but is expected back in training soon. Pedersen's likely 4-2-3-1 lineup features Lumley in goal, Cooper anchoring a defence alongside younger options, Bannan and Thornton pairing in midfield, and Mason Burstow leading the attack against his former club, having scored 12 League One goals for Bolton last season.