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Sheffield Wednesday are dealing with a new problem every day and an injury to goalkeeper Pierce Charles is the Owls’ latest dilemma.
The 20-year-old glovesman has done a spectacular job for the Championship club since stepping up to be number one. A lot has changed since he made his league debut in March, with Josh Windass among the many players leaving the club and manager Danny Rohl also departing following failed payments from owner Dejphon Chansiri, sparking Wednesday fan protests.
The Owls’ former Brighton loanee goalkeeper James Beadle is at Birmingham City this season, leaving Charles to be the only senior stopper at the club. Now, that risk has become a real problem for Wednesday, after reports of a shoulder injury were confirmed by the club on Thursday.
Understandably, Owls fans have been left frustrated by the club being left in this position before their clash against Wrexham on Saturday. Wednesday may need an emergency loan for a professional goalkeeper, and with Killian Barrett reportedly carrying a knock, this may be possible. There are a number of goalkeepers Wednesday could sign, but Wednesdayites want one former star to return.
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Wednesday fans want Keiren Westwood to come out of retirement
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have already began to wonder who Pedersen can recruit to go in goal, and some of their minds jumped to their former goalkeeper Keiren Westwood.
Westwood has been retired since November last year, but that hasn’t stopped Wednesday fans thinking about bringing him back.
“What’s @WestwoodKeiren up to? (I’m lowkey not even joking)” one fan wrote on X.
Another said: “That might make me turn up to games just to see him!”
“Get Westwood out of retirement…” a third added.
“What about @WestwoodKeiren pops back for a bit?” a fourth suggested.
Westwood, now 40, was at Hillsborough for seven years and won Owls Player of The Year twice, first in 2014/15 and again in 2016/17.
He left following the Owls’ relegation to League One in 2021 following the expiration of his contract and has spoken out about how ‘horrible’ it was to leave the club since.
The ex-Coventry goalkeeper had a short spell with Queens Park Rangers at the end of the 2021/22 season, before spending almost two years without a club. He then joined League Two side Crewe on a short-term contract as cover for injured first choice keeper Tom Booth in February 2024 until the end of that campaign.
Despite hanging up his boots since, it would be fitting for Westwood to come and save the day after being ‘upset’ by his original departure and offer Owls fans a bit of joy during such a difficult time for the club.
Sheffield Wednesday release statement on wanted star Pierce Charles’ injury
Wednesday confirmed their young goalkeeper’s injury on Thursday morning through a club statement.
It read: “Pierce Charles is confirmed as facing a spell on the sidelines following scans on a shoulder injury.
“The young Owls goalkeeper has excelled between the sticks in the early throes of the new season but will now be absent for the immediate clutch of games.
“Manager Henrik Pedersen will address the situation in his pre-match media conference later today ahead of Saturday’s trip to Wrexham.”
Charles, who came in for Beadle for the final games of last season, has been the subject of transfer interest this summer. The Star have reported that French outfit Strasbourg want the Northern Ireland shot-stopper and had a bid rejected for him.
The report also stated the club would be willing to send him back to Hillsborough on loan and pay his wages. However, with Charles now injured, a move is likely to be put on hold until further notice.