Sheffield Wednesday: Keiren Westwood fit but not featuring for Owls

Wanted man Keiren Westwood was left out of the Sheffield Wednesday squad at the weekend even though he was fit enough to play.
Keiren WestwoodKeiren Westwood
Keiren Westwood

The goalkeeper is a target for the Owls' Championship rivals, Stoke City, and could be on his way out of Hillsborough before the August 9 deadline for permanent transfers.

Manager Jos Luhukay said the shot-stopper had recovered from a minor knee injury, but Joe Wildsmith and Cameron Dawson were chosen to be in goal for last Saturday's 3-1 Hillsborough pre-season defeat against Villarreal.

A target for Stoke CityA target for Stoke City
A target for Stoke City
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Luhukay insisted his relationship with Westwood is fine after the 33-year-old keeper tweeted he was "100 per cent not injured" following the manager's talk of a knee concern.

"It was no problem," Luhukay said. "For me, there are no issues between us. Keiren is now 100 per cent fit.

The manager said Westwood had been omitted from the squad that beat Dutch side NAC Breda 1-0 in a private friendly a week last Saturday because of a knee complaint.

Westwood then missed the following Tuesday's 2-1 reverse at Mansfield Town and Saturday's Villarreal clash.

Jos LuhukayJos Luhukay
Jos Luhukay
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"Keiren could not train on the Thursday (before NAC Breda)," Luhukay said. "When a player doesn't train on Thursday and we have a game on Saturday, I must protect that player.

"Keiren was back training with the team on Wednesday and he had a good session with us."

Westwood, in the final year of his contract, is unlikely to figure at Wigan Athletic this Saturday when the Owls kick off their Championship campaign.

Wednesday have strength in depth in the keeping department and, with the pressure on to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations, are thought to be ready to sell their first-choice No 1 for the last four seasons.