'Fight' to become Sheffield Wednesday's number one next season set to intensify
Who will be The Owls’ number one next season?
There will be strong competition for Sheffield Wednesday’s number one shirt next season.
The Owls’ goalkeeping department is undergoing significant change following the sale of Pierce Charles to Manchester City, while the loan of Murphy Cooper, who has now joined Plymouth Argyle, expired at the end of last season.
Wednesday confirmed the arrival of Joe Lumley, who had a short loan stint at Hillsborough last term, from Bristol City, last week and many fans are wondering whether he will be the main stopper for the new campaign. Lumley, 31, joined on an emergency loan in October and played two matches against Oxford United and Middlesbrough.
Asked whether Lumley will be the new number one, Owls coach Pete Shuttleworth, said: "He is coming into fight for his place. At the minute he is the only senior goalkeeper that we have got. As we stand right now yeah (he is the number one) but I am sure there will be additions to that department as well. It is always a fair fight for a number one, I don't think anyone is ever guaranteed that shirt but Joe has got great calibre, he has played in the Championship. We know bringing him he will be a top goalkeeper in League One."
Cameron Dawson, who won promotion from League One with Wednesday in 2023, has been training back at the club. He was pictured with the squad at St George’s Park. The 31-year-old is a free agent after leaving Rotherham United. As well as Lumley and Dawson, youngster Logan Stretch, who started the first-half against Hallam on Tuesday night, makes up the goalkeeping department as it stands.
“Cameron Dawson is still training with us,” Shuttleworth added. “He has been good to have around. He has been around the club a long time."
Lumley, who has penned a two-year deal at Wednesday, said he ‘jumped at the chance’ to return to the club, adding: “I was here last season and just got a feeling within that time of the set-up of the club, how big the club is, how passionate the fans are. It was a no-brainer for me to come here.
“I'm here to serve the team and serve the club, so it's not about me. Obviously, I'm going to put my best performances in that I can, train as hard as I can, week in, week out, every single day.”