The battle for the gloves at Sheffield Wednesday: Garry Monk on the Cameron Dawson v Joe Wildsmith debate

The ongoing debate surrounding the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper spot is one that Garry Monk has been asked about a number of times in recent weeks.
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The exiling of long-time number one and fan favourite Keiren Westwood in favour of talented new contract holder Cameron Dawson has been one fans have chewed on since Westwood’s last game back in November.

But with clarity given on the reasons for the 35-year-old’s bowing out, the reemergence of Joe Wildsmith – like Dawson a lifelong Wednesdayite – has thrown fresh light on the argument.

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Though he was unlucky with a deflection, a Dawson error allowed Brentford to open the scoring as he picked the ball from the net five times at Brentford on Saturday, while Wildsmith’s creditable performance against Manchester City earned him plaudits.

Monk revealed he would make a decision on Friday afternoon as to who he would plump for between the sticks for Saturday’s home clash with Nottingham Forest.

“Like everyone else, there's a need to put things right,” he said on the goalkeeping chin-scratcher.

“There are big decisions to be made in all areas, it’s been very difficult and you’d like to have a settled team and only be making certain changes for freshness in three-game weeks or whatever.

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“It’s been different from that for various reasons and it’s not been easy making selections, but that’s what I have to do.

Cameron Dawson will be hoping to continue his run of league games in the Sheffield Wednesday goal.Cameron Dawson will be hoping to continue his run of league games in the Sheffield Wednesday goal.
Cameron Dawson will be hoping to continue his run of league games in the Sheffield Wednesday goal.

“We’ve got another training tomorrow [Friday] and come the end of that training there’ll be a decision made on what the team will be and what the squad will be.”

And asked about Dawson’s confidence levels after a torrid afternoon in the capital, he said: “Like all of them, the challenge for all of us, myself included with the players, is that we have to do something about it.

“For them, for themselves, for the club and for each other is for them to come through that with inner determination this week.

“They’ve all acted like that from what I’ve seen. We’ll have to make decisions about the team but it will all be about giving ourselves the opportunity to win this game.”