Chey Dunkley debut? Garry Monk gives Sheffield Wednesday injury update on new defender, Osaze Urhoghide and explains Julian Börner’s absence

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Josh Windass, Elias Kachunga and Izzy Brown have all now made their competitive debuts for the Owls having played in either – or both – of the two games against Walsall and Cardiff City, but Chey Dunkley is still waiting to get out on the field.

With many changes expected for the Carabao Cup clash with Rochdale tomorrow night, some will have been hoping to see the Owls’ new defender in action, but it appears that Monk is not taking any chances on the player following a nasty injury earlier in the year.

Speaking after 2-0 win over Cardiff, the Owls boss said, “I generally have a rule, and of course you can adjust it, when lads have been out for six weeks or so, there’s always a process where he needs to get some game time, generally using the U23s to get their bearings back again.

“I think Chey will need a degree of that, but we’ll see, we don’t know the situation we might be in and it might be a case of needs must.

“The key is to make sure that when he’s back he’s very close so that he doesn’t break down. Again he’s another naturally fit young boy, so we’ll see how much training he needs.”

Meanwhile, regarding young Osaze Urhoghide, he said, “Osaze’s first full training session was on Friday, so he’s going to need a bit of training - possibly an U23 game or two because he’s out for quite a while and missed preseason.

“He’s done hard work, he’s strong, but there’s nothing like training. We’ll keep assessing him, he’s a strong boy, a fit boy. He’s naturally fit so he’s not going to need too much, but maybe Tuesday is a little bit too soon.”

Finally, regarding Julian Börner, who was missing v the Bluebirds, he said, “He was just ill, he rang in ill in the morning, that’s why he didn’t travel.”

Unlike Urhoghide and Dunkley, it appears the German could feature tomorrow evening.

More Owls news

'No number one' says Monk

Talking points from the win in Wales

SWFC LIVE: Monk on striker hunt

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