Sheffield Wednesday-linked Lyle Taylor opens up on refusal to finish season

The 30-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of June and in January was linked with Sheffield Wednesday and a host of other clubs, will not play for the Addicks again after voicing concerns to manager Lee Bowyer over a potential injury scuppering his next move.

Taylor’s decision was made alongside two of his teammates – Chris Solly and Birmingham loanee David Davis – and has prompted fears other soon-to-be out-of-contract players across the Championship would follow suit.

Speaking to the media this week Owls boss Garry Monk made it clear that no Sheffield Wednesday player is yet to raise similar concerns and all first-team squad members are understood to be training.

Lively 11-goal Taylor, who is again linked with a host of clubs including Scottish giants Rangers, said he acknowledges the negative reaction he’s had from many supporters but reiterated that he felt he could not risk getting injured at this vital stage in his career.

Having raced to the top of the Championship scoring charts at the start of the season, the Montserrat international missed a chunk of Charlton’s fixture list with a knee injury picked up on international duty.

“I'm gutted at the way it's finishing,” he said, “but I don't expect people to care. I know that once the damage is done it's irreparable and I don't really expect any sympathy.

“We are the first ones able to go back so that's difficult for footballers and football clubs. My reasons and concerns stem from my knee injury - it plays on the mind.

“It makes me think what would happen if I had an injury now that threatened the rest of my career. I'll be honest with you, it scared the life out of me.

“That's my honest reasoning. I know it won't sit well with people but it's been a very hard decision to make.

“I want to play to keep this team in the league; we have worked so hard to get here. But there is something in the back of my head that says if you get a serious injury the chance you have worked and dreamed of since you were six-years-old is gone.

“I'm not 26 or 27 - I'm 30 years old. The way I play, it puts me in positions that I could get seriously injured at any time.”

The list of Sheffield Wednesday players out of contract at the end of June has been diminished in the last 48 hours with the news that Joey Pelupessy, Osaze Urhoghide and Matt Penney had had their contracts extended to the end of the 2020/21 season.

That leaves Steven Fletcher and Morgan Fox, who have both been offered deals, as well as Fernando Forestieri, Atdhe Nuhiu, Sam Hutchinson, Kieran Lee and Sam Winnall.

The Championship have offered a provisional restart date of June 20.

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