da mrbet： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
da brwin： There is still a long way to go yet in this current Championship season, but you’d imagine Garry Monk and his Sheffield Wednesday side have an ambition to make it into the playoffs at the very least – a feat that hasn’t happened for two straight seasons.
The 40-year-old will need to rely on the likes of Steven Fletcher, Kadeem Harris, and Barry Bannan all continuing their form while also staying injury-free.
He may also look to use the January transfer window to strengthen in key areas that they are maybe lacking, Football FanCast have previously mentioned why a striker or a left-back may be high on their priority list.
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But there’s also a trend creeping into Hillsborough that leaves Monk with a dilemma as no player under the age of 23 has featured for the club in the league this season.
Breaking that stigma comes with its risks as any young player must justify a first-team position at the end of the day, and as we’ve seen with Jos Luhukay, it ultimately cost him his job as he tried to integrate their academy prospects.
Therefore, when January does swing around, it would be wise to send a few more of them out on loan rather than letting them play U23s football, which is far and away a different kettle of fish from the men’s game.
At least then, the youngsters will be getting valuable experience at a professional level without impacting Monk’s stance as first-team manager.
Alex Hunt may be a player to benefit most from such an agreement after the U23 captain signed a new three-year deal at the club only last month.
He made his first-team debut against Sunderland in the EFL Cup last season but has only been named on the bench in the league once this campaign.
The fact he has signed a new deal means he has at least some plaudits in south Yorkshire, but his development is only going to stall unless he gets out on loan or forces his way into the first-team, and given how Wednesday have the oldest squad in the league, the former seems more likely.
As a central midfielder, he has Bannan, Sam Hutchinson, Massimo Luongo, and maybe even winger Adam Reach ahead of him for that role.