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

The Owls have been training in groups of four for over a week now ahead of tomorrow’s step into contact training, and neither Westwood nor Hutchinson have been spotted in any of the videos or pictures that have been shared by the club from Middlewood Road.

Both players have been linked with an exit this season – Westwood has been out of favour and Hutchinson is out of contract next month – so The Star asked Monk whether they’d been part of training so far.

The Wednesday manager responded by saying, “Keiren’s been injured. He was injured before this period and wasn’t available anyway. So he’s following a physical programme with the medical department.

“As I’ve said before, I have to make decisions on what I feel moving forward and for the best of the club, I have to make decisions that not everybody agrees with or likes, and that’s part of my job.

“I try and do that not just for the here and now, but for the future of the club, and for how we need to evolve this squad.

“Sam is part of that situation, but I’ve had clear chats with Sam, he understands where he is, I’ve had clear discussions with him like I have done with all the players. That’s just part of my job - I have to take that responsibility. Everyone will have their opinions on that whether it’s right or wrong… But I have the support of the club to move that forward.”

When asked for more information on Westwood, Monk replied, “He has a shoulder injury… He was nursing that before all this. Speaking to the medical guys, he is coming more and more back to full health now, but In terms of his return to fitness, I think he is still a little bit of a way off that.”

It certainly seems as though neither will feature again in 2019/20 when the league does resume, and it could be that both have donned Wednesday colours for the last time.

More Wednesday reading:

Sheffield Wednesday duo speak out for #BlackLivesMatter cause

Owls boss stunned by timing of Championship decision

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