Sheffield Wednesday are still without a number of key first teamers.
Sheffield Wednesday could be down to the bare bones again this weekend, with Daniel Pudil and Marco Matias set to miss the Owls’ trip to Barnsley – barring the latter’s red card being successfully appealed.
Keiren Westwood, Tom Lees, Joost van Aken, Sam Hutchinson, Barry Bannan, Kieran Lee, Almen Abdi, Fernando Forestieri, Gary Hooper and Steven Fletcher all missed Saturday’s defeat against Birmingham City, and it would be some surprise if any of those are fit to return at Oakwell.
Wednesday recruited just one new player – Dutch midfielder Joey Pelupessy – during the January transfer window, although further additions are still possible, via the free agent market.
Here are three the Owls might fancy in a bid to lighten the load…
Javier Garrido
Many Wednesdayites called for a new left-back ahead of last month’s deadline, and Garrido, at 32, could be a useful short-term solution. The former Manchester City, Lazio and Norwich City player left AEK Larnaca last year, so could be short of fitness, although he is said to be a target for the Owls’ Championship rivals Nottingham Forest.
Josué Pesqueira
Creativity remains an issue under Jos Luhukay, making a player such as Josue obviously appealing. The left-footed attacking midfield player left Osmalinspor last month and remains, surprisingly, without a club. Still only 27, Josue, who has four caps for Portugal, previously enjoyed productive spells at Porto, Braga, Bursaspor and Galatasaray.
Michiel Kramer
Although recent exposure has been good for Atdhe Nuhiu and Lucas Joao, neither are prolific, while Jordan Rhodes has failed to score in open play for approaching two months. Rhodes was left out entirely against Birmingham, despite being fully fit, and with no sign of Hooper or Fletcher returning soon, bringing in another striker perhaps is not as mad as it seems. Kramer, who left Feyenoord last month, has averaged roughly a goal every three games throughout his career, and is certainly more mobile than his 6’4″ frame suggests. However, the 29-year-old is said to be interesting clubs across Europe, so any move may need to happen fast.
Which free agents would you like Sheffield Wednesday to sign in the coming months?
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