Five burning talking points from Garry Monk's Sheffield Wednesday press conference
and live on Freeview channel 276
The Star were at a revealing video call press conference – here are the major talking points..
Steven Fletcher is fit and ready for Saturday
It’s one that has dominated the message forums and social media platforms over the past week or so, but Garry Monk offered clarity on Steven Fletcher’s situation at the club.
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Hide AdMonk said the reason Fletcher didn’t take part in the training session at Hillsborough last week was because he was carrying an injury but that he has trained this week and is in contention to play on Saturday.
Contract extensions have been offered
It’s a talking point across the Championship of course, but the issue of whether players out of contract at the end of June will choose to play on into a manic July has made progress at S6, with Monk confirming that each of those players training with the first team have been offered extensions.
Those mulling their next steps include Fletcher, Morgan Fox and Atdhe Nuhiu. Fernando Forestieri has also been offered an extension after his agent told The Star earlier this week that contact was yet to be made.
Monk said: “In terms of that side of it, every player in the training group that is out of contract has been asked to extend beyond this month and into next month to complete these games, that’s the short-term view right now. They’ve all been asked.”
Kieran Lee confirmed
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Hide AdOne player whose short-term future is locked to the Owls is long-serving midfield man Kieran Lee, Monk confirmed.
The Manchester United youth product will stay until the end of the season having already agreed his extension and the Owls boss hinted that further consideration would be made with regard to a possible contract extension beyond that, saying he will “definitely be extending for the short-term – at least”.
Loanees want to stay on
Extensions would also have to be drawn up for Wednesday’s five loan players should want Monk them to stay on. Offering an update, the Wednesday boss confirmed that approaches had been made to Newcastle United, Crystal Palace and Parma after Jacob Murphy, Connor Wickham and Alessio Da Cruz respectively voiced their interest in seeing out the season.
“All the loans are in the training group and have been asked to extend,” he said. “They’ve all agreed, and we’re just trying to finalise that with the clubs.”
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Hide AdAs suspected, his answer did suggest a short Owls career was nearly up for David Bates, though, who is not training with the squad.
Josh Windass injury confirmation
Another loanee who is keen to stay is Wigan’s Josh Windass. The Star revealed that the 26-year-old had injured his calf and would be out for around three weeks, complicating the extension of his deal.
Monk said that the club would monitor the injury and take it from there. They have until the end of the month to finalise an extension.
Sam Winnall is also injured and has not been training.