Sheffield Wednesday's latest transfer business might have answered goalkeeper question
Who will be Owls’ number one this season?
Sheffield Wednesday’s latest transfer business suggests Joe Lumley could be Owls’ first-choice goalkeeper at the start of the season.
Lumley, 31, had a short loan spell at Hillsborough last term, playing two games after arriving on an emergency loan deal from Bristol City. The experienced stopper re-signed earlier this month on a free transfer, this time on a permanent move, penning a two-year contract.
Lumley signed on the dotted line after Northern Ireland international, Pierce Charles, 21, was sold to Manchester City. At the time of Lumley’s arrival, he was the only senior goalkeeper on Wednesday’s books and many wondered if he was coming in as a number one or a back-up. In the last 24 hours, the picture has probably become clearer, with Lumley’s experience and games played seemingly putting him in the driving seat compared to Connal Trueman, 30, and Ashley Maynard-Brewer, 27, who have both joined on free transfers.
Ex-Birmingham City stopper, Trueman, who was at MK Dons last season, has made fewer than 80 senior appearances. Maynard-Brewer, who was at Dundee United in the second-half of last season, has 145 matches on his CV and a promotion from League One with Charlton Athletic in 2025. However, Lumley leads the way with 235 career outings, including a small number in the Premier League with Southampton.
Lumley was a regular starter at Reading, Middlesbrough and QPR in the Championship, while Maynard-Brewer had two seasons at Charlton where he made 20-odd appearances in League One, whereas Trueman has never really nailed down a number one spot. It will be an intriguing contest between the three of them, and there could be twists and turns and surprises along the way, with the battle likely to be good-natured but very competitive.
Owls fans might get a sense of who is going to walk out with the gloves on the first day of the season at Leyton Orient this weekend when Wednesday face both Accrington Stanley (12.30pm) and Oldham Athletic (4pm) on Saturday. The Carabao Cup clash against Bolton a week later could also provide answers.