‘One of the biggest challenges’ Sheffield Wednesday have faced, warns defiant boss Garry Monk

Wednesday are preparing for a season which will be anything but straightforward, with the club to start the campaign on minus-12 points after being handed the penalty by an independent disciplinary panel for breaking spending rules.

The club are appealing against the punishment.

With a number of senior players such as Steven Fletcher, Morgan Fox, Sam Hutchinson, Fernando Forestieri, Kieran Lee and Atdhe Nuhiu having left, and Keiren Westwood also not part of Monk’s plans, the Owls squad will have a much-changed look this season.

Four new signings have joined so far – including the newly-acquired attacking duo of Josh Windass and Elias Kachunga – with bringing in another recognised centre-forward being the major priority for Monk.

Character as well as talent were prerequisites for Monk when bringing in new faces, with the Owls chief having also let those players already at the club know in no uncertain terms that the new campaign will be one of the biggest challenges that the club have faced in a long time.

It is a season when he cannot afford to carry any passengers and he has stressed that the team unity must be total with Wednesday’s players assigned with drawing strength out of adversity in the coming months.

Monk, who has appointed a new captain in Barry Bannan, said: “I spoke to the players at the end of last season and sent a letter to all of the players who were going to be here.

“It was just alluding to what I thought before and what needed to happen moving forward as when we came back (for pre-season), that transition and change was coming.

“It is not just about incoming players, but themselves (existing players).

“The key is to open your mind and want for a little bit more than what has been done here before.

“They have taken that on board and it is a mentality approach of what we need to do.

“It is a big challenge and is not going to be easy for us at all. But I think what we have tried to do is create that unity and spirit which is going to be needed throughout the season so we can get through difficult and good moments.

“We know we are in a serious situation and one of the biggest challenges that the club has had for a long, long time.

“We have to be the group that get the club through it and that is what we are trying to do.”

The fervent desire of all of his new arrivals in showing no hesitation in joining the club to sign up to what will be a major challenge in their careers is something that has further enthused Monk.

Alongside Windass and Kachunga, defender Chey Dunkley and midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru have also joined.

Monk admits that Wednesday, due to Covid-19, have had to ‘cut their cloth’ accordingly and are looking in a ‘different’ market for players, but he has stressed that he is very happy with the recruits he has made so far, in terms of mentality and ability.

Monk, whose side visit Walsall in the Carabao Cup tomorrow, added: “We are looking in a different market than what we might have normally done.

“But the key is, whatever market you are looking in, you are looking for players that you want to bring here.

“Once you identify them, you speak to them and see from them whether they really want to be here or not.

“I can honestly say every one of those players with their attitude and the way they have talked about the situation – we talked about the points deduction side of it – wanted to be here and be part of that challenge.”

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James Mitchinson