Joe Wildsmith on ambition to be Sheffield Wednesday’s long-term No 1

Owls keeper Joe Wildsmith. (Picture: Steve Ellis)Owls keeper Joe Wildsmith. (Picture: Steve Ellis)
Owls keeper Joe Wildsmith. (Picture: Steve Ellis)
Joe Wildsmith admits the last two years have been something of a personal rollercoaster at Sheffield Wednesday.

After breaking into Carlos Carvalhal’s Owls team as a teenager – featuring in League Cup upsets over Newcastle United and Arsenal – many inside Hillsborough predicted a bright future for the Academy youngster.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But when 24-year-old Wildsmith took to the pitch last weekend, as the Owls faced Nottingham Forest after the coronavirus lockdown, it was his first Championship start in over two years.

And while it marked a 50th appearance for his hometown club, it has taken five years to reach the milestone.

Another save from Owls keeper Joe Wildsmith against Boro back in 2018 (Picture: Steve Ellis)Another save from Owls keeper Joe Wildsmith against Boro back in 2018 (Picture: Steve Ellis)
Another save from Owls keeper Joe Wildsmith against Boro back in 2018 (Picture: Steve Ellis)

With competition from Keiren Westwood and Cameron Dawson to contend with – several changes of manager did not help the goalkeeper’s chances of playing – plus a serious knee injury, picked up in pre-season last summer, Wildsmith has had to bide his time.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It was great to get back, doing what I love doing,” said Wildsmith. “It’s been a while since I have had a Championship appearance.

“It’s been a good learning curve, a mad couple of years.

“I have been dropped, I haven’t been favoured by previous managers, picking up a really bad injury, it’s been a rollercoaster that I have had to ride.

“To come out the other side with a new sort of belief, a new outlook on football. I was in a situation where everything could have been taken away with the injury.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“But I am back now and probably feel better now than I ever did, physically and mentally.

“I have got that buzz back. The last two years I have missed it. I just want to play football and help this club get where it wants to be.

“I want to be No 1 at the football club.

“When the gaffer (Garry Monk) came in, I was injured, but he asked everyone to fill out a form asking what their targets were for the year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I gave myself a big target, that was to be this club’s No 1 by the end of this season. Hopefully this is my chance to prove that.”

Before Saturday, Wildsmith – who had loan spells at Alfreton and Barnsley early in his career – last played Championship football in April 2018.

His comeback game this season – after his knee injury – was against Manchester City in the FA Cup in March, before lockdown.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I completely ruptured my posterior cruciate ligament, in the game out in Germany,” said Wildsmith.

“It was a knee to knee in the challenge, the injury is common in car crashes when people whack their knees on the dashboard.

“The impact was really bad. I was in a brace for 12 weeks without being able to move my leg. It was a tough period.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“They told me it might never be the same as it was, I would have to do rehab on it for my whole career.

“But it (the knee) turned out great. There was no operation, it was left to heal naturally, it’s reconnected now and feels as good as ever. I have not had a problem with it since. I do rehab before training to keep on top of things, strength-wise.

“I am really happy with the guys who looked after me in the physio department.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That injury dashed his chances to impress then boss Steve Bruce, although Wildsmith is no stranger to having a new manager.

“It was tough under Jos (Luhukay),” he recalled. “Obviously, I played a few games under Jos that season then lost my place.

“Then I thought it was coming to a time where I might get a chance, and Jos got sacked, Bully (Lee Bullen) took over and Westy (Westwood) came back in.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I thought I was going to get a chance and then I was down to third choice. It was like ‘wow, what’s going on?’.

“Steve Bruce came in, so I thought work hard again, hopefully prove a point, keep working hard and might get a chance.

“But then the injury came and it was tough. It’s been a mad couple of years. I don’t know if things would have been different if I hadn’t been injured, who knows?”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

While Wildsmith enjoyed a relatively quiet afternoon against Forest in a 1-1 draw – he had little chance with Joe Lolley’s goal – it was an eventful afternoon for team-mate Connor Wickham.

The on-loan striker netted a late equaliser against Forest, his first goal for the Owls in his third loan spell at Hillsborough. The 27-year-old was shot of match fitness when he arrived from Crystal Palace in January, but has returned after lockdown in fine shape.

“It was great for Connor to score,” said Wildsmith. “He has had a tough time since he came back on loan to us.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He had a great time when he first came (on loan), he was scoring goals for fun. Coming back, he had a tough couple of games, but he looks sharp, fit and raring to go since we came back off lockdown.

“The goal symbolised that and fully deserved for the work he has put in.”

Editor’s note: First and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you. James Mitchinson, Editor

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.