Sheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk delivers boost with update on Steven Fletcher's injury

The 12-goal Scot has sat out of action since suffering a knee injury in their FA Cup win at Brighton on January 4 and was initially ruled out for ‘eight to ten’ weeks.

Fletcher has been pictured out on the pitches at Wednesday’s Middlewood Road training ground and Owls boss Garry Monk said that the forward is targeting a comeback at the start of March having suffered no negative responses to his rehabilitation.

His injury has coincided with a run of just one win in four league games during which the side have tumbled from the Championship play-off places.

Wednesday have an FA Cup date booked with Premier League champions Manchester City on March 4 before a trip to Brentford on March 7.

Monk said: “We’re hoping for the start of March, he’s doing very well in his rehab and I can’t really put a specific time on it but we’ve been told by the medical department that it will be around the start of March.

“Whether that’s the first week or the first couple of weeks in March is still a bit of a grey area, but considering where we thought he was going to be to how he has been getting on with his rehab, we hope he can come back and play a big part in the season.”

Crystal Palace forward Connor Wickham has been signed on loan to help beef up the Owls’ already stacked forward options along with the loan additions of Alessio Da Cruz and Josh Windass.

“His injury made that position even more important than it was,” Monk said. “I had already seen we need to strengthen there, but it made it even more necessary.

“Fletch is doing fantastic and is well on his way to having his most successful season. But that [injuries] happens.

“We tried to adapt with it and everyone has given their effort but as I said, it’s an area that needed help anyway.”