"The door is never closed for anyone" - Garry Monk hails the comeback of Moses Odubajo into the Sheffield Wednesday first team

The Star understands that the 26-year-old full-back, signed on a free transfer from Brentford in the summer, was told he could leave the club last month by Garry Monk during a spell of eight matches on the Wednesday sidelines that saw 19-year-old rookie Osaze Urhoghide selected over him.

But an improvement in training has seen him re-enter the manager’s thoughts and Odubajo has started Wednesday’s last three matches.

“He’s been training hard and that’s your job as a professional footballer, to be ready,” Monk said.

“The door is never closed for anyone, your performances will dictate what your opportunities are and he’s done very well.”

Odubajo, a Steve Bruce signing, has had his fair share of low points in a short Owls career – giving away two penalties at Preston and one at Derby in a game he was later shown a red card in – but received praise from Monk in the resolve shown in coming back into the fold.

It’s a comeback facilitated in no small part thanks to an injury to Liam Palmer, suffered in the owls’ defeat to Cardiff on December 29, and more recently to Morgan Fox.

Palmer returned in the 0-0 draw with Millwall on Saturday and with Fox expected to be fit for this weekend’s trip to Barnsley, the Odubajo run may well be over for now.

Hairy moments in that Millwall draw came as he dallied too long in possession in the first half and played Jón Daði Böðvarsson onside for the Lions’ best chance of the match, but Monk was happy with his contribution.

“He was very good,” Monk said. “It’s not easy to adapt to the opposite side but he did that, both him and Palms [Liam Palmer].

“Overall they did that. I thought the attitude and the commitment towards it was great and he had some really good moments.

“Like everyone else there were some moments that we’ll need to improve and go through but overall I was pleased.”