Comment: Do Sheffield Wednesday actually need to add more players in the loan window?

Roll up, roll up...here's your last chance. The 'emergency' loan window is getting ready to close.
Sheffield Wednesday players celebrate another Gary Hooper goalSheffield Wednesday players celebrate another Gary Hooper goal
Sheffield Wednesday players celebrate another Gary Hooper goal

As usual, the mere thought of having the opportunity to sign more players being taken away sends some football fans into a quivering wreck, wondering just how their team is going to manage.

And no matter how well their side are playing, there are still some who would like to see squads further bolstered. In a way it's understandable, everyone likes to see someone new coming in; a different option, one that might just ensure that ambitions bear fruit.

Owls boss Carlos CarvalhalOwls boss Carlos Carvalhal
Owls boss Carlos Carvalhal
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Sheffield Wednesday fans, though, need not worry. In the context of the type of player that may well be available, just how could you strengthen? In short, Carlos Carvalhal probably can't.

Goalkeeper? They've one of the best in the division in Keiren Westwood and two more in Joe Wildsmith and Lewis Price who have already shown they are more than capable of stepping up when necessary.

Defence? There's already competition for places, two good full-backs on either side and more than enough very, very good central defenders. So that's the entire back line sorted.

Gary Hooper and Carlos CarvalhalGary Hooper and Carlos Carvalhal
Gary Hooper and Carlos Carvalhal

Midfield? Already the most competitive area of the squad. No more players needed.

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Up front? Here's where a 'maybe' comes in. If a proven striker was available, then there's not a team around who would turn their nose up at it. However, you would have to ask why they are available and is it, with eight games remaining, already too late to make a major difference?

This week Norwich City striker Kyle Lafferty was linked with a move to Hillsborough. The striker had long been expected to be playing for Leeds United by now, but that move for some reason hasn't materialised. Now, somewhat timely, Wednesday have been thrown into the mix, with the Northern Ireland striker desperate for game time as he prepares to lead his country into this summer's European Championships.

There's little doubt that the 28 year old would have been a decent acquisition a few months ago when he had time to settle and was already buoyant following Northern Ireland's qualification for Euro 2016. Now? It's doubtful Lafferty could have the same impact.

Northern Ireland striker Kyle LaffertyNorthern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty
Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty

It's not just Lafferty though, we're just taking him as an example of a striker currently looking for a club and in fairness he could well make a move this week and set the league alight - he's certainly good enough. However, if any club is willing to offload a forward then the player is - aside from not being good enough to break into their current side's first team squad - not fit enough, not experienced enough or are the proverbial pain in the backside.

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The final eight games of a season in which you currently sit well placed to unexpectedly qualify for the play-offs, is not a time to be taking a gamble on that. Carvalhal has already seen how long it took Fernando Forestieri and Gary Hooper to get going, having previously been denied regular first team football and Aiden McGeady is currently in a battle to regain sharpness.

Forestieri and Hooper are scoring enough and show no signs of drying up, Atdhe Nuhiu, though without goals, at least adds something else, likewise with Lucas Joao, plus Marco Matias is now back from injury.

The best course of action for Wednesday is to stick with what you've got. It's not like they've let you down that much.