The registration deadline Sheffield Wednesday face for Seny Dieng to make Owls debut vs Sheffield United
Sheffield Wednesday are working on a deal to sign Middlesbrough goalkeeper Seny Dieng on an emergency loan agreement.
Sheffield Wednesday have until 9am on Sunday morning to officially register the anticipated emergency loan signing of Middlesbrough goalkeeper Seny Dieng.
As reported by The Star on Thursday, the Owls are working on a deal to sign the Boro shot-stopper on a seven-day emergency loan deal ahead of Sunday’s Steel City derby against Sheffield United after losing Murphy Cooper to a muscle injury.
Cooper, who is on loan at Hillsborough himself, had a scan on Wednesday and the results did not deliver good news, meaning he is ruled out of the trip to Bramall Lane and potentially other fixtures as well.
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Wednesday are expected to complete a deal for Dieng, who has been omitted from Boro’s 25-man squad after a deadline day move to Dutch club Feyenoord broke down earlier this month. He is a vastly experienced Championship shot-stopper, making more than 150 appearances in the division.
Traditionally, clubs wanting to include new signings in a weekend fixture have to formally register them by 12pm on Friday to make them eligible, but the conditions around emergency loan goalkeeper signings are slightly different, meaning the Owls have until 9am on Sunday hand over the appropriate registration forms to the English Football League [EFL], although the expectation is the deal will be completed much sooner to avoid any late panic.
EFL rules set out deadline for signing emergency goalkeeper
The guidance set out by the EFL in rule 58.2 states: “The Club must supply to The League written evidence to demonstrate the circumstances set out in Regulation 58.1 apply, together with the appropriate form(s) for his registration and The League having confirmed that the circumstances conform to the provisions of this Regulation:
“58.2.1 in respect of any fixture played on a weekday when the Office is normally open, at least three hours before the match; or
“58.2.2 in respect of any other fixture:
“(a) 12 noon on the day of the match; or
“(b) at least three hours before the match, whichever is the earlier.”
With Wednesday’s trip to Bramall Lane on Sunday scheduled for a 12pm kick-off, 9am will mark the cut-off point for when Wednesday must have Dieng registered by for him to be allowed to feature.
However, the expectation is Wednesday will not run the deadline close and will get Dieng through the door in plenty of time for him to train with his new teammates ahead of the tussle with Chris Wilder’s side.
The terms of a seven-day emergency loan deal state the goalkeeper must start every fixture the club plays during that period, meaning Dieng will also be a guaranteed starter against Norwich City at Carrow Road next Wednesday night.
Additionally, Wednesday are permitted to bring in an emergency loan goalkeeper because they do not currently have a goalkeeper fit that is deemed as a ‘professional goalkeeper’ by the EFL.
The EFL does not consider a shot-stopper to be a ‘professional goalkeeper’ until they have made five starts in a league fixture, the League Cup or the FA Cup. Logan Stretch, who has been the Owls’ back-up ‘keeper for much of the campaign, has made just one substitute appearance in his senior career thus far, coming off the bench in Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat to Brentford in the FA Cup third round last month after losing Pierce Charles to a shoulder injury.