Where Sheffield Wednesday require clarity from EFL as restart preparations step up

While fixtures are now set, with Nottingham Forest set to make the trip to S6 in Wednesday’s curtain re-raiser on June 20, there are several logistical aspects that the club require clarity on as they seek to ensure player welfare while planning for what looks to be a manic fixture schedule.

Forest are among the clubs to have elected to play friendly matches in the lead-up to the restart, running out 2-0 winners over a Wolverhampton Wanderers side made up of a mix of first-team and academy players yesterday.

Wednesday have taken a safety-first approach to their preparations and have preferred to organise matches within the squad.

Speaking to the media last week Owls boss Garry Monk voiced his concerns with the lack of clarity over issues such as travel protocol.

"At this moment I can't sit here and say I know what we'll have to do to travel,” he said.

“I haven't even had that understanding of what will happen on a matchday, with travel. I haven't had that yet in terms of how we can travel and who can travel with us.

“Even with home games, I am not clear on what we can do or the amount of staff that we can have.

“It’s such a short space of time and we’ve not had it clarified yet in terms of what you can and can’t do.

“Do you travel separately, do you travel by coach? It’s all these things I’m not aware of at the moment.”

Wednesday face one of the more gruelling travel schedules in the Championship, with trips to Bristol City, Swansea, QPR and Fulham still to undertake. With eight matches to play in 24 days from June 28, it’s an area the club would like sorted sooner rather than later.

“We need a good preparation, especially when we have a long drive to London. This is very important. I will wait until what the EFL tells us and we will do what they need.

“The most important thing for us is focus and concentration in our game.”

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