Sheffield Wednesday trio have had opportunity to ‘bed in’ ahead of Barnsley clash, says Garry Monk

Monk has been a regular advocate for the congested nature of the Championship fixture schedule, preferring to focus on the opportunity to build momentum rather than complain of fatigue, but after Saturday’s goalless draw with Millwall suggested the week’s break has come at a good time.

New loan signings Josh Windass and Connor Wickham – signed in the final hours of Friday’s deadline day – were unable to play in that Lions clash and Alessio Da Cruz, who made his debut from the bench, was signed just two days earlier.

And Monk sees this week as an opportunity to allow the new boys to bed in to the Wednesday way of doing things.

“It is a catch 22,” he said. “I would like another game straight away but maybe sometimes it is good to have that week to build and let the new players have a prolonged period of getting them up to speed and what we need from them.

“They can get used to us, the lads, how we are going to play and what we need to do.

“I think it probably is a good thing that we have a week prepare because we can work with the new players, integrate them and look forward to the next league game.”