What's in a number? Probably not much.. Things we noticed about Sheffield Wednesday's squad numbers
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Yes, we know there’s rarely anything in them, but you know what? There might be. Maybe. Here are a few sort-of-talking-points from the big breaking news.
Six-starved and no nine
In the most satisfying development for football purists, striker Jordan Rhodes has finally hung up his number six shirt after a love affair that always just felt a bit wrong. He’s gone to number 20.
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Hide AdIt’s interesting, perhaps, that he’s been overlooked with regard to the number nine shirt, which remains vacant for Wednesday’s next man in the door, presumably. Garry Monk told local media this week that nothing was imminent on that front, but that work is ongoing to get at least one more striker in situ.
Going West
For the first time in a long time Sheffield Wednesday have no definite number one, both literally and figuratively speaking. Long-serving stopper Keiren Westwood, back training with the under-23s, remains at the club but has not been given a squad number.
That leaves Joe Wildsmith – number 28 – and Cameron Dawson – number 25 – battling it out for the gloves.
Monk said there’ll be no more goalkeepers in before the October 5 deadline, with numberless youngster Josh Render presumably playing third choice.
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Hide AdThe youth will set you free
As expected, there are squad numbers for Alex Hunt (29), Liam Shaw (26) and Osaze Urhoghide (19), but Charles Hagan has also been awarded a first team number and will wear 41.
There’s no squad number for the aforementioned Render, Manuel Hidalgo, Liam Waldock, Ben Hughes Conor Grant or Ciaran Brennan, who have all trained with the seniors in recent times.
Whether or not they could be made available for a loan move remains to be seen, though Monk sounds keen to keep as large a squad available to him as possible.
Reaching out
He was number nine. Then he was number 20. In the latest in Adam Reach’s Sheffield Wednesday squad number saga, he’s now the club’s number 11.
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Hide AdDoes it mean he’ll be seen as a left wing-back? Does it signal a fresh start after a difficult time last season? Is there life after this one? How can the universe be infinite?
These are the questions that need answering.
New faces
Five new boys in, so here goes.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru will wear number 17, Josh Windass 18, Chey Dunkley 23, Izzy Brown 24 and Elias Kachunga 45.
Seriously though, how can the universe be infinite?
Those Owls numbers in full:
2 Liam Palmer
4 Joost van Aken
7 Kadeem Harris
8 Joey Pelupessy
10 Barry Bannan
11 Adam Reach
13 Julian Börner
14 Matt Penney
15 Tom Lees
17 Fisayo Dele-Bashiru
18 Josh Windass
19 Osaze Urhoghide
20 Jordan Rhodes
21 Massimo Luongo
22 Moses Odubajo
23 Chey Dunkley
24 Izzy Brown
25 Cameron Dawson
26 Liam Shaw
27 Dominic Iorfa
28 Joe Wildsmith
29 Alex Hunt
41 Charles Hagan
45 Elias Kachunga