Sheffield Wednesday have 'clear' number one for new season
The Owls have signed three goalkeepers this summer
Owls boss Henrik Pedersen says it is ‘very clear’ who Sheffield Wednesday’s number one goalkeeper will be for the start of the new season.
Wednesday host Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup first round on Saturday before kicking-off their League One campaign away at Leyton Orient next weekend.
The Owls have a new-look goalkeeping department following the departure of Pierce Charles to Manchester City, while Murphy’s Cooper’s stint at Hillsborough was only a temporary loan. Those exits left them with just young Logan Stretch, 19, who has since joined Buxton on loan.
Three new goalkeepers - Joe Lumley, Ashley Maynard-Brewer and Connal Trueman - have arrived this summer. Lumley has the most experience, particularly in the Championship. Maynard-Brewer has a League One promotion on his CV with Charlton Athletic. Trueman has only played around 70 senior games in his career.
Pedersen, who has taken on feedback from goalkeeping coach Darryl Flahavan, kept his cards close to his chest when he was asked by The Star about who is number one is, but there should be some clues when the starting line-up is announced against Bolton.
“We're speaking together,” Pedersen said. “His (Flahavan) opinion is very important, of course it is. But we are very clear here. There is one number one, and then there is a number two and a number three.”
When asked about the importance of such competition, he added: “It's always important to have competition because we want to create a winning environment, a winning culture, where there are consequences if you don't use the potential you have. And also this is healthy that we have more players who can compete. We have a clear number one, and then number two or three. We have to show and grow, but we have a clear number one.”