Aside from up top.. what other positions do Sheffield Wednesday need to strengthen?

It’s fair to say there’s some work to be done at Sheffield Wednesday in the coming weeks.
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The Owls line up against Walsall on Saturday in their Carabao Cup curtain-raiser with only 20-or-so senior players in their squad. With the season condensed into just 245 days – around a month shorter than a normal season – the fixture list sees Wednesday face 13 midweek games plus cup fixtures.

Garry Monk hinted after their friendly draw with Leicester on Saturday that he was looking to add to the squad.

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There is a clear need for reinforcements up front after the Owls missed out on West Brom forward Jonathan Leko. The club remain confident of securing a deal for Josh Windass.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Garry Monk has work to do to strengthen the squad.Sheffield Wednesday manager Garry Monk has work to do to strengthen the squad.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Garry Monk has work to do to strengthen the squad.

But where else could the club do with a fresh face or two ahead of the October 5 deadline? We had a look at the areas that require strengthening.

Out wide?

Wednesday are looking increasingly likely to lose the attacking threat of Jacob Murphy, who has impressed management staff at his parent club Newcastle United, while the return of Matt Penney will provide back-up for Kadeem Harris on the left after he shifted into the wing-back role to good effect earlier this season. Adam Reach may also deputise.

Images out of the club’s training camp suggested Liam Palmer was training as a right wing-back and will be joined in contention there by Moses Odubajo.

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It’s no secret that Wednesday are interested in bringing Murphy back to Hillsborough after a successful loan spell last year and it may be that Monk will look elsewhere to add depth to what is a key position in the Owls system. Osaze Urhoghide could be trusted to fill in at wing-back.

In defence?

The Star understands that Dutch defender Joost van Aken has impressed Monk enough to earn a chance to turn his career at Wednesday around, which thanks to the addition of Chey Dunkley leaves the Owls with five senior centre-halves plus Osaze Urhoghide, who has played the majority of his football in the middle.

Six centre-halves to fill three positions sounds plenty, but Wednesday have been linked with loan moves for defenders including Wolves youngster Dion Sanderson and Stoke’s Liam Lindsey.

Should a club come in for van Aken Monk would be given a decision to make and it could well be that the Owls boss considers drafting in further reinforcements.

In goal?

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Cameron Dawson and Joe Wildsmith appear set to battle it out in the Owls goal, with Keiren Westwood training with the under-23s and a long way from contention.

Teenage rookie Josh Render made up the goalkeeping trio at Loughborough and with Paul Jones seemingly having left the club, Wednesday make look for a similar low-cost, short-term stopper to provide back-up for the senior duo.

Sheffield Wednesday first-team squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Cameron Dawson, Joe Wildsmith

Centre-halves: Tom Lees, Chey Dunkley, Julian Borner, Dominic Iorfa, Joost van Aken, Osaze Urhoghide

Wing-backs / Wingers: Kadeem Harris, Matt Penney, Liam Palmer, Moses Odubajo

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Midfielders: Barry Bannan, Massimo Luongo, Izzy Brown, Alex Hunt, Adam Reach, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Joey Pelupessy, Liam Shaw

Strikers: Jordan Rhodes

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