Sheffield Wednesday transfer news: First-teamer leaves with no immediate prospect of replacement
Ethan Horvath has returned to Cardiff City at the end of his loan, with no scope at present for Sheffield Wednesday to replace him.
The American was an unused substitute in the New Year's Day defeat at Preston North End, but has now returned to his parent club as planned.
Horvath was one of only two new players the Owls were allowed to sign during the summer, and only because shoulder surgery for Pierce Charles left them without a senior goalkeeper.
Horvath made 16 appearances in all competitions for the Championship club, but a red card at Charlton Athletic in October caused him to miss matches against Middlesbrough and Oxford United.
Although Horvath was only suspended for the first of those games, Joe Lumley was signed on a seven-day emergency loan and under Football League (EFL) rules had to play every game whilst at Hillsborough.
Sheffield Wednesday have been placed under a series of embargoes since they and then-chairman Dejphon Chansiri were charged by the League over the non-payment of players and staff in June. They will remain under embargo until they exit administration, with former Sheffield United advisor James Bord believed to be undergoing the League's "owners and director's test" with a view to taking over.
The Owls were allowed to sign free agents Liam Cooper and Nathan Redmond in November with injuries and now Africa Cup of Nations call-ups decimating their squad, but only two, and manager Henrik Pedersen said over Christmas the League are not prepared to sanction further loans at this stage.
"Right now we have asked the EFL if we can get some loan players, right now it's a no," he said On Boxing Day.
"This is the situation.
"Honestly I don't know how long the process (of completing a takeover) will take with the EFL but we're all hoping it can go quickly. It's obvious for everyone we need support.
"Otherwise I hope they will give us permission to have some loan players in January, no matter how long the other process will take."
Even when the embargo is lifted, the Owls are banned from buying players or paying a loan fee for them for the next three transfer windows, although it has been suggested the league would be open to discussing an easing of that with the new owners.
With 19-year-old Logan Stretch, who is yet to play senior football, back as Charles' No 2, the Owls would most likely be allowed to use the emergency loan as they did with Lumley should Charles have another issue. It allows clubs to loan goalkeepers for seven days at a time.
Horvath left with the gratitude of those at Wednesday, after stepping in at a very difficult time for the club.
“Big thanks to Ethan and all the best to him," said Pedersen.
“Ethan came to us as third(-choice) goalkeeper at Cardiff and did very well, better than we expected.
“He is a fantastic person and a very good goalkeeper.”