Owls manager Luhukay makes fellow Dutchman Pelupessy his first signing

Midfielder Joey Pelupessy yesterday finalised his personal terms after the Owls agreed an undisclosed fee with Eredivisie side Heracles Almelo.

And the 24-year-old – who will wear the No 32 shirt at Wednesday – could be thrust into a first-team debut in tomorrow’s Championship visit of Cardiff City.

Pelupessy said: “I am delighted to be here, this is a fantastic opportunity for me at Sheffield Wednesday and I can’t wait to get started.

“I have always said I would like to play football in England and now it’s going to happen.

“It’s a big club. I hope to play as soon as possible.

“I am a defensive midfielder, strong, fast, and love to make tackles,” added Pelupessy, who is the third Dutch player at Hillsborough, joining Glenn Loovens and Joost van Aken.

Wednesday – with just one win in 12 Championship outings – are in desperate need to strengthen an injury-ravaged squad.

They are without 10 first-teamers due to long-term injuries, plus captain Loovens is suspended for tomorrow’s visit of Neil Warnock’s Cardiff.

Heracles manager John Stegeman told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf: “Joey is an extension of me as a trainer and an important pillar, so this is a big loss. We are also proud that we have again delivered a player to a major competition.”

Heracles captain Pelupessy is a defensive midfielder and will help fill the gap left by injured midfield trio Sam Hutchinson, Barry Bannan and Kieran Lee.

But Luhukay knows recruiting quality players in the January transfer window is no easy task.

The Owls have to balance the need to bring in short-term replacements to bolster their depleted ranks, and sign players who are long-term investments.

“The problem in January is it’s not an easy transfer month,” said Luhukay. “The good players, normally they must stay with their club. You can pick up players but they have not had the chance to play for their club.

“We must make good decisions for the future.

“We must look towards this season, but also at the end of the season you have to look at the team.

“You can get a player on loan, or buy, also for the future. You have two situations, and we have a lot of injuries, so I must have a good eye on my squad. Now we have 13 (fit) players, but there are 10 players unavailable at this moment.”

So can Wednesday get better value for their money in looking at overseas talent, compared to British players? Luhukay said: “It always depends on their contract? Does it expire in the summer of 2018, or go on to 2019 and 2020.

“The length of their contract, and also their salary. Both must be in a good situation for us.

“It always depends on how fast the player integrates into the team. Not every player is the same.

“How fast can the player adapt? It can be one week, one month, maybe longer. It all depends on the player.”

Wednesday are currently without strikers Gary Hooper, Steven Fletcher and Fernando Forestieri, plus defenders Tom Lees and Joost van Aken.

Almen Abdi faces a fortnight on the sidelines after picking up a muscle injury in training, while goalkeeper Keiren Westwood has been ordered to rest for “two or three weeks” longer.

Luhukay said his overworked medical team are putting in up to 12-hour shifts to treat the injured players. The Dutchman said: “It’s a situation where we must have a lot of patience for the injured players to come back.

“Every player has his own injury, and the medical team and physio are working 10 to 12 hours a day to prepare the players so they can return to training.”