Sheffield Wednesday injury update - three ‘very hopeful’, one ruled out for the season

Connor Wickham, Kieran Lee and Liam Palmer have all missed out on the last two matchday squads – Wickham and Lee the last three – as the toll of the manic post-lockdown Championship fixture schedule took hold.

Monk earlier in the week that the trio were getting closer to contention but reported that they were all back in training and that the club were ‘very hopeful’ of their inclusion at Craven Cottage.

“They’ve all worked yesterday so hopefully there’s no reaction today, we’ll see this morning how they come in and how they’re feeling,” he said speaking to the media via video call.

“There were no problems yesterday and if there’s no reaction today they’ll be training so we’re very hopeful they’ll be ready for the weekend.”

Monk did say that the breakthrough season of young defender Osaze Urhoghide was over due to a knee problem.

The 20-year-old has made four appearances this season but has not featured since football’s return this summer.

“I don’t think he’s going to make this season. He’s got a slight knee injury and he’s only young, so we’ve got to make sure he’s right.

“It’s going to be too soon for this season but we’re hopeful he’ll be back for the start of pre-season whenever that is next season.

“I said after the Huddersfield game that the scheduling hasn’t been in kind to us just in terms of the teams that we’e played having had extra recovery time.

“It does make a big difference. An extra day or couple of days here and there that you get to recover players is so important. Everything in this period is about energy but we haven’t had that luxury.

“Every player is carrying fatigue or some kind of knock and we’re trying to work all the way through it. We don’t have the luxury of making huge changes in every game but everyone has trained and come on and given their maximum, that’s all you can ask for in this period.”

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