Cup run enabled Owls to test young prospects
GARRY MONK says this season’s League Cup run has given food for thought and helped identify the youngsters who can flesh out a thin Sheffield Wednesday squad.
The Owls have had to pare back their senior players with greater emphasis on signing emerging talents, and bringing through their best academy players.
Those trying to prove their worth have found opportunities in the League Cup, where the Owls knocked Walsall out on penalties and beat Rochdale before succumbing 2- 0 at Premier League Fulham on Wednesday.
Liam Waldock and summer signing Fisayo Dele- Bashiru have played their only senior football in the competition, as has 20- year- old Ciaran Brennan. There have been debuts from the bench for Charles Hagan and Connor Grant, both 19, whilst Liam Shaw ( 19) and Alex Hunt ( 20) have featured.
Nigerian- born forward Korede “Cody” Adedoyin travelled to Craven Cottage hoping to play but his registration after signing from Everton is still to be completed.
“You can do all the training in the world but the real thing is the matches,” said Monk. “We did very well to get this far and we’d like to have gone on a little bit further but we’ve been able to see the whole squad. That’s always food for thought as a manager.
“Alex and Shawy have been training with the first team since I came in so they’ve developed a lot more. Fis ( Dele- Bashiru) is a first- team player.
“Ciaran Brennan is doing really well. He’s come on much stronger this season. Whether he’s a firstteam player or not, we’ll have to see. Liam Waldock was excellent on Wednesday, Charles is a bit behind them and Cody’s only just come into the building.
“There’s going to be a bit of naivety with it so I have to be smart.
“In terms of expecting them to play 20, 30 games they’re not there yet, probably not many of them, but what they can do is contribute when needed.”
On Hagan, he added: “He needs more work but he has potential, he has speed.”
What will help Monk is more signings, or even to be able to play his most recent one, Adedoyin.
“Nothing imminent,” he said of potential arrivals.
“( With Adedoyin), I’m not sure ( what the hold- up is). We expected ( clearance) for Wednesday’s game, even up to lunchtime, but I’ve been assured it’s imminent.”