"One of them has to make it their own" - Former Owls coach on the battle for the gloves at Sheffield Wednesday

The personalities of the two men jostling for position between the sticks at Sheffield Wednesday will bring the very best out of one another, according to their former youth coach.
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Sean McAuley, who served as the Owls’ academy manager for seven years and signed both Cameron Dawson and Joe Wildsmith as youngsters, told The Star he believes the respect the pair have for one another makes for a good environment to push one another on.

The 47-year-old, who also served as Wednesday’s first-team caretaker manager on two occasions, has been watching the progress of his charges from the US, where he now works as assistant coach at Minnesota United.

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“We signed them as schoolboys,” he said. “I remember taking them out to the US for tournaments and obviously they were involved with England. I’m delighted to see them both doing so well.”

In January Dawson was rewarded for his efforts in replacing long-time number one Keiren Westwood in the Owls goal with a four-and-a-half-year contract.

The 24-year-old appears to be the preferred choice of Wednesday boss Garry Monk but entered the coronavirus-enforced suspension of football out of form off the back of a 5-0 defeat at Brentford.

Wildsmith, also 24, battled back from a serious knee injury to play an eye-catching role in the 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City.

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McAuley said: “It’s been like a see-saw, hasn’t it? Joe was the first to get in and then Cameron has gone about making it his own and then Joe played again in the cup competition and did really well.

Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Cameron Dawson was given a new contract in January.Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Cameron Dawson was given a new contract in January.
Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Cameron Dawson was given a new contract in January.

“It’s only good for the club that they are pushing each other and they get on well, I know that which is healthy.

“Knowing both of their personalities I know they’ll have tremendous respect for each other and they’ll help each other along.

“That will only help them in the long run and from a coaches point of view, it’ll help the club to get the best out of them.

“They’re getting to the age now where one of them will have to step forward and make it their own so we’ll wait and see on that one.”

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