Why something will soon have to give in Sheffield Wednesday's goalkeeping department

It is an area of the team where the Owls are spoilt for choice, with Keiren Westwood, Joe Wildsmith and Cameron Dawson vying for one position.

But time is rapidly running out for Westwood, Wildsmith and Dawson to demonstrate to manager Jos Luhukay why they deserve to start the Owls' Championship opener at Wigan Athletic on August 4.

Westwood is far and away the most experienced goalkeeper on Luhukay's books but academy graduates Wildsmith and Dawson have acquitted themselves well in the past when they have deputised.

Dawson thought a goalkeeper would leave Hillsborough this summer. No one has moved on so far.

But something will have to give next month when the serious stuff gets under way.

"There are three of us at the minute and we are all just working hard on the training pitch," Dawson told The Star. "I've not really thought about anything else other than coming in every day, working hard and trying to impress."

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Dawson has reached a point in his career where he should be playing football on a regular basis.

Last term, the 23-year-old had to wait patiently to be given an opportunity to showcase his talent.

But he was handed the gloves in the final three matches and enhanced his reputation by keeping back-to-back clean sheets against Reading and Premier League-bound Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Dawson admitted: "It is excellent to play football. I'm very privileged to have played for Sheffield Wednesday and I want more of it.

"But that will ultimately be the manager's decision. We will just keep working hard and I'm sure we will all find out who is playing come the first game of the season."

Dawson, who had a short loan spell at Chesterfield last December, feels in good shape after playing 45 minutes in each of the Owls' warm-up matches against Bury and Lincoln City.

"In pre-season, you are going to get chances to play so you just try and do what you can to get into his (the manager's) thoughts," he said. "It is important to not try too hard to prove anything.

"Just do what you do, believe in yourself, trust in your ability and the people around you and enjoy playing football again after having a bit of break."

Having drawn a line under a disappointing 2017/18 campaign of underachievement and an unprecedented injury crisis, Wednesday's squad are determined to bring the good times back to S6.

Their encouraging form in pre-season also offers hope for the future. Luhukay's men have won all of their three matches without conceding a goal.

"The mood is really positive (in the camp)," said Dawson. "It has probably been one of my most positive pre-seasons yet.

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"It has been really good and the lads have worked really hard.

"It (pre-season) has been well thought out by the manager and his staff and we have had a really good few weeks back at it."

Has Luhukay tweaked much in his first pre-season in charge?

Dawson said: "All managers have their own ideas and put their own touch on things but it has been really positive.

"The lads have come in in really good shape. We came back in early so we have not had to batter people from day one. We eased people back in and then the hard work started."

So no excuses if Wednesday make another slow start?

"We are in a very privileged position to play for Sheffield Wednesday so there should be no excuses anyway," insisted Dawson.

"But we have had a really good month and we have a couple of weeks left before the start of the season. We will look to start strong."

The proof will be in the pudding.

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