Paul Jones’ arrival at Sheffield Wednesday has confused some Owls fans.
Jones turned 33 in June and has played just four times in three seasons – thrice for Fleetwood and once for Norwich – while Wednesday have three senior ‘keepers already.
But there is some logic to his signing, as we explain below…
Injury and suspension
Joe Wildsmith damaged knee ligaments in the pre-season friendly defeat to VFB Lubeck, leaving the Owls with just two fit options to cover what Lee Bullen suspects could be a six-month lay-off for the Sheffielder – one of whom, Keiren Westwood is suspended for Saturday’s visit of Barnsley. Bullen said before Westwood’s sending off at Reading on Saturday that he was keen to strengthen between the sticks.
The Wednesday caretaker boss, Bullen. (Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images)
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Three’s the magic number
Wednesday, like most clubs, have typically backed up their back-up in recent years, preferring an experienced last resort to an untried academy kid. Carlos Carvalhal signed both Lewis Price and Jake Kean to do the same job Jones has been brought to do at Hillsborough.
He’s not going to break the bank
Without being privy to the financial details of his contract – which runs until the summer – it is likely that Jones has arrived as Wednesday’s lowest-earning senior player, perhaps by a distance. The former Exeter player, who was on the bench when the Owls lost 5-1 to the Grecians nine years ago, admitted himself that he has joined as third-choice.
The former Portsmouth goalkeeper, Jones. (Photo by AMA/Corbis via Getty Images)
