Garry Monk: Sheffield Wednesday players ‘deserve those contracts’

Defenders, Declan Thompson and Luke Cox, as well teenage goalkeeper, Luke Jackson, are all said to have been offered deals ahead of the 2020/21 season, while a handful of others are also thought to be close to extending their stay at Hillsborough.

Wednesday have several senior players such as Steven Fletcher, Morgan Fox and Kieran Lee all out of contract at the end of next month, while loan deals with Jacob Murphy and the like will also be expiring.

At this point in time there has been no definitive line on what will happen should the 2019/20 season go beyond June – and the Owls boss says nobody has spoken about not wanting to stick around to see out the season – but there is a chance that some U23s could be called upon if deals don’t get extended, be that short-term or long-term.

Monk, who gave first team opportunities to the likes of Osaze Urhoghide and Alex Hunt this season, says that – first and foremost – they’re rewarding the players for their efforts, but admits that they are also mindful of planning to be ‘prepared for anything’.

When the Star asked about the contracts offered to several youngsters, Monk replied, “The first thing is that they deserve those contracts… I’ve said before that I’ve tried to come in here and assess all the young lads and have them training. A few have made it into the first team this season, and I think that's a bigger picture thing.

“I'm going to the club and trying to promote those academy players, and 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.”

Wednesday are due to return to training next Monday.