Scott Parker has warned his Fulham side not to take the challenge posed by Sheffield Wednesday lightly as they prepare for tomorrow night’s League Cup tie.

The Fulham boss believes the Owls will travel to London in good heart having made an unbeaten start to the new season and knows that Garry Monk’s men possess real quality after pushing Fulham all the way in a eight-goal thriller at Craven Cottage back in July. Parker told Fulham’s official website:

We played against them last season, not too long ago at the Cottage, so we’re familiar with Sheffield Wednesday. They’re a strong side, we know that, we saw that last time we played against them. We had some good moments, but they showed that they can cause you some problems.

They do look solid. They play with a back-five that’s hard to break down, and they do have quality in their side, I think we’ve seen that. They’ve started the season very well, so we won’t be taking them lightly. We realise the quality they have and what they possess, so we’ll prepare the best we can. It’s going to be a tough game, as always, but it’s another opportunity for us to get out there, get some football in players’ legs, and for us as a team to continue working on what we’re trying to do.

Parker hinted that he might not make as many alterations to his side as he did against Ipswich in the second round – when there were nine changes – given that Whites’ next fixture, against Aston Villa, is not until Monday night.

That’s going to be helpful. It helps obviously the lads’ recovery, it gives us more time to prepare going into Villa and work out how we can go about the job there. It freshens people up a little bit more, so that’s going to be important for us.

We’re another week down the road, with more training, more football that the lads have had. But there’s no hiding from the fact that these games are vitally important for us at the moment, because we’ve not had a pre-season. We’ve not been back long, the players are a little bit undercooked, and this is a perfect time for us to get these games in the lads. And also to develop, like I say, as a team is vitally important as well.

The Fulham boss revealed that he has a fully fit squad from to select from ahead of the Craven Cottage clash.

There’s no injuries really. We’re at full strength, everyone’s good, so I’ve got a full squad to pick from. As always, it’s about balancing which players need it and where they are in their fitness, so those are the decisions I have to make.