The debate: Will frozen-out Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Keiren Westwood ever play another Owls game?

Because with Monk in the Hillsborough hotseat, it appears that long-time number one and fan favourite Keiren Westwood has played his last game for the club.

It all happened in something of a blur. Defeat at West Brom in November signalled a changing of the guard between the Owls’ goalposts, with 24-year-old deputy Cameron Dawson stepping into the breach and eventually signing a four-and-a-half years deal in January.

A closer inspection of that Hawthorns breaking point throws up more questions than answers. A lapse in concentration by full-back Liam Palmer let Grady Diangana into the Owls’ box. Westwood brought him down. Charlie Austin equalised.

What went largely unnoticed was Westwood’s furious extended verbal volley towards Palmer, who was later sent-off in frustration. Speaking to the press after the match Monk passionately defended the Republic of Ireland keeper for marching down the tunnel while his teammates applauded the travelling fans.

Five days later, Monk confirmed that Dawson would take the gloves for the clash at Birmingham It was a decision made easier, he said, by Westwood’s minor shoulder injury. He hasn’t played since and Westwood is understood to be training with the under-23s.

What went on in the days between is largely unknown. Steven Fletcher reported only that Westwood had ‘held his hands up’ for his role in the mix-up. Both Monk and Westwood have made it clear there has been no fallout. These are the tough decisions, Monk says, that a football manager has to make. It appears to be as simple as that.

Speaking about his Wednesday future to BBC Cumbria last week Westwood, whose contract is up in 2021, said he was having to ‘play it by ear’.

He’s been here before of course and he’s not alone. Both he and fellow exile Sam Hutchinson were bombed out of Jos Luhukay’s plans in 2018 only to be brought back by Lee Bullen and then Steve Bruce in the weeks and months that followed.

But what is apparent is that with Garry Monk at the helm, Keiren Westwood is unlikely to play a further part at Sheffield Wednesday.