The Garry Monk policy that could prove to be a masterstroke for Sheffield Wednesday
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Sheffield Wednesday’s restart against Nottingham Forest arrives on June 20 and is followed by an eight-day rest before eight matches in 24 days. Pressure on the squad, both physically and mentally, will be immense.
And there’s one policy he has introduced to the club – that of blooding youngsters in first-team training throughout the season – that could work out to be a masterstroke.
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Hide AdThe fact is that Monk does not yet know what that squad will look like and with matches coming thick and fast and five substitutes at Monk’s disposal each game, there’s little doubt the academy will be called upon to fill in the gaps.
Detailing his methods earlier this season, 41-year-old told The Star that academy players were involved in first-team training every single day. He’s offered pitch time to Osaze Urhoghide and Alex Hunt, with Ben Hughes and Preslav Borukov making matchday squads.
“They’re involved in everything, the training, the preparation and we use some of them to prepare against,” he said. “They see it all.
“They have to be aware of what it is to be a first-team player and see the standards that are expected.
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Hide Ad“Creating that pathway is important. If you’ve got an academy at a club, it’s pointless not using it. Each of them are involved at some part of the week.”
This exposure will only serve the club well in what are untested waters for the entire division.
Asked last week whether the extension of a number of youngster’s deals was to ensure they were well-stocked ahead of a cluttered match schedule, Monk told The Star: “They've done well this season, that's why they’ve received those contracts.
“But then, of course, the other side of it is also to be prepared for anything, and if there are issues with players in the first-team environment, then we have people that can step in. It's not an ideal situation, but you have to try and cover for it as best as you can.”