Sheffield Wednesday's Joey Pelupessy on contract talks, the season and isolating in Holland

The Dutch midfielder, who arrived as Jos Luhukay’s first Wednesday signing in January 2018, is self-isolating at home in Holland and also voiced concern over the logistics of returning home in good time should the season be given a snap resumption date.

A raft of Owls first-team players are approaching the end of their contract and Pelupessy admits any progress on talk of new contracts has been put on pause, for him at least.

“To have had talks by now was the plan but it’s been a bit quiet since this crisis,” the 26-year-old told the Yorkshire Post.

“We had (initial) conversations but not much (was said at that stage) and before they could really get going, it (the pandemic) had started. They’ve stopped now because no one knows what’s going to happen.

“When we get back to training I think the conversations will start again. Maybe it’s too soon now.”

Pelupessy reiterated a desire to stay at Hillsborough and revealed he would be happy to extend his contract even in the short term to cover the end of the campaign, in the event of an extended season.

“I hope we can agree something because if the contract is finished and the season is back on, you cannot play,” he said.

“I’d really like to stay because Sheffield Wednesday are a massive club. I could smell from the first day they really wanted promotion.

“We’ve a nice team, nice players and the manager (Garry Monk) is a nice guy. If I can stay I would be really happy about that. England is a beautiful country to play in. For a lot of players from outside it’s a dream to play in England.

“I would be happy to extend my contract for four or six weeks or whatever so this can happen.”

If the rest season was to be cancelled, Pelupessy will have played his final game in a Wednesday shirt, of course.

“That would be really strange but I haven’t thought much about that,” said Pelupessy. “The things I can control are to work hard and be as fit as possible, then see what happens. It’s not always easy to think too much about things you can’t control because you’re throwing energy away.

“I’m a positive guy so let’s see. A lot of players are in doubt. Before Christmas everything was positive but now it is just wait and see.”

And returning from Holland in time to be involved? A 14-day isolation period is currently prescribed for those returning to the UK from abroad.

“It’s an issue for the foreigners and we’ve been in touch with the manager about it,” confirmed Pelupessy. “If we find out training’s going to start in two weeks we need to get back there so we’re ready for the start of training.”