'There is no closed door on anyone' - Sheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk discusses Sam Winnall's future

The striker has only started once in the Championship since manager Garry Monk's appointment in early September, firing a blank in their defeat at Hull City. His five other appearances under Monk have come from off the bench, including a late cameo at Nottingham Forest last weekend.

But Monk, whose side entertain Bristol City on Sunday, insists Winnall can still force his way back into his plans.

"The proof is in what has happened already this season with players being out of the squad and then back in," said Monk. "You need the whole squad.

"There is no closed door on anyone.

"At the end of the day, my job is to pick 11 starting players and an 18-man squad. It is difficult.

"Sometimes there have been players who have been left out of squads that don't necessarily deserve it but you have to make decisions.”

Winnall, out of contract at the end of the 2019/20 campaign, appears to have fallen behind Steven Fletcher, Jordan Rhodes, Atdhe Nuhiu and Fernando Forestieri for a striking spot.

Monk stressed: "I think I have shown with some of the decisions that have been made that you can play your way into a squad from a position where you might not have been in the squad or team at the beginning. You need a competitive squad and you try and be as fair as you can as a manager.

"They all know the demand and that they have to be ready.”

When quizzed on whether anyone has asked to leave when the transfer window reopens next month, Monk said: "If there are any decisions in terms of players going out and getting minutes, it will be for us to decide.

“They (the players) are all fully committed and focused on the job in hand.”

Monk scooped scooped the League Managers Association's Performance of the Week Award after Wednesday’s 4-0 triumph at Nottingham Forest.