Tonight they visit Glanford Park as part of a Sheffield Wednesday side looking to move level on points with second-placed Huddersfield Town.

But if Scunthorpe United had had their way, striker Ryan Lowe and wing wizard Mike Jones would have been playing against the Owls rather than for them this term.

Iron assistant manager Chris Brass has revealed both players were the subject of enquiries by United when still at League One rivals Bury, where they were key elements of the side Alan Knill led to the cusp of promotion last season.

Brass admitted though that once the Owls began to swoop, choosing Glanford Park over Hillsborough – and the illustrious history that comes with it – was never really going to be an option.

"They are two really good players and we'd have really liked to bring them to this football club," said Brass, whose side raided the Shakers for midfielder Damien Mozika at the end of August.

"We enquired right the way through, but in fairness, they've gone to Sheffield Wednesday for a number of reasons.

"We knew it needed a good offer to get Ryan Lowe out of Bury – look at his goalscoring record since we took him in.

"Even at Sheffield Wednesday, where he hasn't played all the games, his record is still good.

"We weren't really in a position to compete with that one.

"With Michael, he was one we thought was a little bit off the radar, but he was someone we enquired about and someone we kept tabs on.

"Again though, when Sheffield Wednesday came calling, that was his mind made up.

"They're two great lads, who fully deserve to see their career progressing.

"I actually think, given the opportunity, Michael could go to the next level again."

Lowe and Jones, who only became an Owl a fortnight ago, have been part of the sort of recruitment plan Brass and Knill can only dream about.

Since the end of last season boss Gary Megson has been able to bring in 14 players, including former Iron record signing Rob Jones, who is a doubt to face his old club tonight after coming off with an ankle injury at the weekend.

"He's made some clever signings and when he's been backed in the transfer market, he's strengthened them," said Brass, of Megson. 

"He doesn't just bring somebody in who'll add to what they've got, he brings key players in.

"I think he's used the budget he's had quite wisely."

The ability to sign so many new faces also means injuries do not pose the same problems as Scunthorpe have experienced in recent weeks.

On Saturday, during their 1-1 draw with Stevenage, such was the length of the Iron's casualty list, they had to name three first year professionals and a half-fit Damien Mozika alongside Bobby Grant on the bench.

Brass says Jordan Robertson, a product of the academy on the other side of the Steel City to the Owls, should return tonight to swell Scunthorpe's numbers, along with on-loan full-back Christian Ribeiro.

Their additions, plus the same sort of work rate to the one produced three days ago, gives United 'a really good chance' of upsetting the form book according to the Iron's number two, against a Wednesday side who have won five of their last six away games.

"You know Gary's teams are really well-organised and the squad he has put together is a good squad that can compete really well in this division," Brass concluded.

"We have to match that and if we turn up and stick to the game plan, we've got a really good chance.

"In order for us to be better as a team we have to match teams that are physical.

"When we are physical within a game and win that competitiveness, it puts us on the front foot.

"We know we can play decent football but it doesn't matter what level you're playing at, you have to be able to match the other team and better it.

"It takes everybody pulling together and making sure that everybody performs. That's how you win football matches."