Sheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk says play-offs were never a realistic ambition as he reiterates need for long-term vision

The Owls are 11th in the Championship table and six points shy of the play-off places after their 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened rivals Barnsley stretched a run of one win in eight league matches.

Monk has repeatedly spoken of the need for a mentality shift at the club and has hinted at widespread changes to a changing room that has been ‘too comfortable for too long’.

Asked whether he was concerned by their position in the league, Monk said: “I don’t think that was ever really the number one aim. Of course that’s the ambition and we all want to fight for it. We’re going to fight for it.

“But if I’m honest at the start of the season it wasn’t an ambition for anyone, realistically. That’s not to say we shouldn’t be fighting for that, we are.

“But you can see how much work needs to be done, I’ve said that from the start.”

Several first team players are out of contract at the end of the season and Monk has already made a handful of notable changes in an attempt to freshen things up going forward.

Senior figures Keiren Westwood and Sam Hutchinson were again left out of Saturday’s matchday squad – prompting increased speculation about their future – with three new loan signings in the starting line-up and youngsters Alex Hunt and Osaze Urhoghide included on the bench.

Monk said: “We have to help the guys improve and all the other things that go with it and what I’ve said about moving forward as a club.

“For the here and now I’m trying to get this right, that’s the most important bit, that’s what we’re trying to do.

“No one is running away with anything, everyone is having their ups and downs. So if we can get that composure side of it right, we can show in the rest of the season the quality that we have. It’s just about improving.”