Exclusive:Sheffield Wednesday hit with injury bombshell - search on for derby day replacement
Sheffield Wednesday’s season of hard knocks has continued with injury to their reigning player of the month.
Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Murphy Cooper is expected to miss this weekend’s Steel City derby clash with Sheffield United through injury, The Star understands.
The on-loan Queens Park Rangers stopper was named the Wednesday’s player of the month for his performances in the Owls’ difficult January. It is understood that the 24-year-old, who was signed in January to act as a replacement to the injured Pierce Charles, has sustained a muscle injury and will face a period on the side lines.
The seriousness of the issue is not yet clear but it is believed Cooper is set to miss out on the weekend’s trip to Bramall Lane - and that there are concerns he could miss future games. With Charles still out and with rookie youngsters Logan Stretch and Jack Phillips set as the club’s only back-up goalkeepers, The Star understands Wednesday are now in the process of exploring their options for a replacement goalkeeper for the derby day clash.
The loss of an in-form player serves as a further blow to a Wednesday squad that can’t seem to catch a break. The post-window departure of Yan Valery means the Owls have one recruitment spot open for a free agent but a cursory look at the keepers available suggests few obvious options.
The EFL’s emergency loan ruling has been explored already this campaign when Joe Lumley arrived for a seven-day stay from Bristol City - and it’s assumed that avenue would be open to Wednesday once more. A seven-day emergency loan agreement can be extended on a rolling basis and should they be successful, the incoming stopper would also be eligible for the trip to Norwich City next week.
Incredibly, the arrival of a new keeper would put them in line to become the sixth man to take the gloves for Wednesday this season after Charles, Ethan Horvath, Lumley, Stretch, Cooper and defender Liam Palmer. Sunday’s derby clash could see the Owls inevitable relegation confirmed beyond all doubt - though Wednesday are focussing producing a performance its supporters can be proud of after a subpar outing in the reverse fixture.
Speaking to swfc.co.uk this week before the scale of the injury became clear, Cooper said: “It's unfortunate that we haven't picked up any wins, but I think as long as we keep doing what we're doing, I'm sure it will pick up. I've been doing all I can to give myself a chance to go out and perform. I think the team have been performing really well despite maybe one or two games. I think we've been doing really well and we're putting in positive performances.
“From the outside looking in, when I was joining, you might think it would be a bit doom and gloom because of the position and the situation. But from players, staff and everyone in the building, it's such a positive environment. It's a great group of lads, the changing room is really good. The staff as well, everyone is so friendly and kind, so I settled in right away.
Cooper joins a number of first team players in the treatment room. Alongside his goalkeeper colleague Charles, Di’Shon Bernard, Dominic Iorfa, Max Lowe, Ernie Weaver, Nathaniel Chalobah, Sean Fusire and George Brown are all at various stages of their recovery from injury.