Five Sheffield Wednesday talking points from yesterday's Garry Monk press conference

Even before The Star broke the news of Joey Pelupessy’s contract extension and before the club confirmed the positive Covid-19 test result of a staff member, Garry Monk delivered his second virtual press conference since the suspension of football back in March.

What did we learn from what the Owls boss said? Let’s take a look at five talking points.

The futures of Steven Fletcher and Morgan Fox remain uncertain

Unlike in the case of Pelupessy, the futures of key men Steven Fletcher and Morgan Fox are far from wrapped up.

Monk made crystal clear his desire to keep them on board but hinted that, with suitors circling, the financial constraints of the coronavirus crisis have affected talks.

The Owls boss said: “It will then be down the decisions of those players with the conversations they are having contractually with the club. I am hopeful. I want them to stay and the two of them know that.

"Hopefully there can be an agreement and an understanding of how the situation has changed with this pandemic and when it hit, and how that has changed a lot of the landscape across football.”

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The club has concern over a lack of preparation time

The announcement that the Championship will return to action on June 20 came as something of a surprise to Monk and Wednesday and it sounds as if there was very little consultation between league and club. And Monk has concerns over player injury.

Monk said: “I don’t think there’s any manager who could sit here honestly and say that two and a half weeks of contract training is good enough preparation for the players to go and then play an intense batch of games.

“We have to deal with it all though, and I’m just trying to focus on what we can do.”

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Little has changed for Keiren Westwood or Sam Hutchinson

It’s been one of the more controversial talking points of the season and the break has done little for either Keiren Westwood or Sam Hutchinson.

Neither have returned to training, Monk has said, with Westwood still nursing his shoulder injury and Hutchinson seemingly on his way out of the club when his contract ends at the end of the month.

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The squad are in good shape

Westwood is the only player to report an injury and Monk said he was delighted with the condition in which the squad have reported for training.

Wednesday will test their fitness further with a number of in-house friendlies. Friendlies against other teams will not be possible.

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Matt Penney conspiracy theories can be put away

The Owls youngster, on loan at Jos Luhukay’s St Pauli, has missed the last two matchday squads with no real explanation, prompting whispers and conspiracy theories that he might be coming back to add numbers to a Wednesday squad that could look quite different come July.

Monk denied any notion it could happen for either him or Joost van Aken, on loan at Osnabrück.

READ MORE:

Exclusive: Sheffield Wednesday extend Joey Pelupessy’s stay

"Some people might not like them" - Garry Monk on 'difficult' Sheffield Wednesday contract decisions

Garry Monk reveals why Keiren Westwood ISN'T training at Sheffield Wednesday plus update on Sam Hutchinson

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