Exclusive:Sheffield Wednesday seek emergency goalkeeper solution after concerning Pierce Charles news

Sheffield Wednesday are believed to be looking for an emergency goalkeeping solution amid concerns over Pierce Charles.

The Star reported on Wednesday morning that the Owls goalkeeper could be sidelined for a while owing to injury, and with Killian Barrett also suspected of having a knock, the Owls have just academy stoppers to call on at the moment. Logan Stretch, who is only 18 years old, has been on the bench for games this season, while Jack Phillips (19) has also spent time with the first team, although neither has made a senior appearance.

With that in mind, and Charles’ injury being more serious than the club had hoped, The Star understands that the Owls are currently seeking clarity on bringing in a replacement, even if only temporarily.

Wednesday, who remain under a fee restriction due to unpaid amounts accumulated over the last year, are unable to sign new players until Dejphon Chansiri can offer assurances that he can pay them, but things could be different when it comes to a goalkeeping crisis.

What is an emergency goalkeeper loan?

Due to a paucity of ‘professional goalkeepers’ available, the English Football League laws allow them to sign an emergency loan stopper. A ‘professional goalie’ is defined as: A goalkeeper (excluding any Goalkeeper listed as a Non-Contract Player) who has been named in the starting eleven on five or more times by:

– any Club (or Premier League club) in any matches in the relevant league or first team cup competitions (other than the EFL Trophy); and/or

– any other club in a professional league in that club’s home association (by way of example, any division of the Scottish Professional Football League, or Serie A, B or C).

The terms of an emergency loan also state that it ‘shall be for a period of seven days, inclusive of the starting date and finishing date’, and that it ‘may be renewed for seven days at a time’. Wednesday would also have to provide proof that unavailable players have been ‘certified by an independent medical practitioner as being unfit to play’.

So in theory, the Owls should be able to bring in a goalkeeper ahead of this weekend’s trip to Wrexham, however they would have to get it finalised and approved by noon on Saturday. It doesn’t leave them with much time.

The Star also understands that conversations are ongoing with regards to trying to obtain special dispensation to bring in a free agent goalkeeper that could be signed for more than seven days, though that would follow the same process as any other permanent signing and would need to be signed off by the EFL’s independent Club Financial Reporting Unit. Whether they get permission to do that or not remains to be seen.

At this point in time no timeline has been given for Charles’ return to action, however it’s likely that more information will be given by manager, Henrik Pedersen, in tomorrow’s pre-match press conference.