Keiren Westwood could be in line for sensational Sheffield Wednesday return against PNE this week

Despite reports to the contrary in another media outlet, Westwood can be registered despite not having been on the original list handed into the EFL at the beginning of this campaign.

Westwood hasn’t played for Wednesday for almost a year, his last appearance coming in a 2-1 defeat to West Brom in November 2019 in which he gave away a penalty.

Since then, he had been frozen out by Garry Monk who chose both Joe Wildsmith and Cameron Dawson at various times for the majority of his spell in charge, which came to an end last week.

The former Republic of Ireland international had also been permanently left out of the squad by another ex-Owls boss, Jos Luhukay.

However, the arrival of Tony Pulis following Monk’s sacking last Monday has changed the goakeeping landscape again at Wednesday and the new manager said in his first press conference yesterday that Westwood would be back in the reckoning as quickly as the club can manage it.

Tony Pulis has already pinpointed an issue that has dogged Sheffield Wednesday for years

On Pulis’ first day in charge, Westwood was pictured back in training with the first team having spent the campaign up to now with the under 23s.

The new boss said: “No disrespect to anybody at the football club or the youngsters that were in, but personally I think [Westwood] is one of the best goalkeepers in the Championship.

"I’d be looking to be picking him, and looking for him to be playing. I can’t be any more honest than that.”

It is understood that Wednesday have been in contact with the EFL regarding the registration of Westwood and see it as not being a particularly complicated process.

So far this season Cameron Dawson has made nine league and cup appearances in goal, while Wildsmith has been between the sticks for five matches.

Westwood, 36, is out of contract at Wednesday at the end of this season having made 179 appearances for the Owls since arriving at Hillsborough in 2014.

He was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year in his first season and has twice won Sheffield Wednesday Player of the Year.

LISTEN: Our Sheffield Wednesday writers react to Tony Pulis' debut in front of the media plus Keiren Westwood's return

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