Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Kieran Westwood is a major doubt for his team’s Championship clash against Leeds United on Sunday.
Manager Carlos Carvalhal revealed in the wake of Wednesday’s defeat to Birmingham City on Wednesday night that Westwood could miss the Yorkshire derby with a rib injury.
Speaking after the match, the Hillsborough boss confirmed that the 21-times Republic of Ireland international had been sidelined at St Andrews on medical advice but didn’t make it clear whether or not he will be able to return against Leeds.
“Keiren Westwood has a problem with his ribs and the medical department advised he go out for this game,” Carvalhal said, as quoted by Wednesday’s official Twitter account.
“Of course we prefer to have Keiren available but we have full confidence in all our goalkeepers.”
CC: Keiren Westwood has a problem with his ribs and the medical department advised he go out for this game #swfcLIVE
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) September 27, 2017
CC: Of course we prefer to have Keiren available but we have full confidence in all our goalkeepers #swfcLIVE
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) September 27, 2017
Westwood, 32, is one of the key players at Sheffield Wednesday and has been a mainstay of the first team since his arrival three years ago.
He has made nine appearances in the Championship this season, keeping two clean sheets in the process.
OPINION
The Owls were tipped by many to be in the promotion mix come the end of the season again, but have had a poor start to the season and lie 14th in the table after 10 games. Naturally, their will be zero sympathy from their bitter rivals, who will ben encouraged that Wednesday followed up their 4-2 defeat at home to Steel City rivals Sheffield United on Sunday afternoon with another loss in the West Midlands when they went down 1-0 to struggling Birmingham. Westwood is one of the key men in Carvalhal’s side and his experience and pedigree will be sorely missed if he is absent for Sunday’s clash at Hillsborough.