Chris Kirkland has explained how Sheffield Wednesday have helped Joe Wildsmith win a prestigious award in League One.
Chris Kirkland joined Sheffield Wednesday in 2012 and spent three years with the Owls, making 90 appearances before losing his place in the sticks to Kieren Westwood.
The goalkeeper also played alongside Joe Wildsmith, who had been with Wednesday since joining as a young boy.
The 28-year-old was promoted to the first team in 2014 and spent a year in the team with Kirkland before he left, allowing him to force is way into the line-up while Westwood was injured.
Wildsmith spent eight years with the Owls’ senior team but never really managed to establish himself as a regular, before he eventually joined Derby County on a free transfer.
Despite spending January on the bench, Wildsmith has mostly retained the first choice position for the Rams this term and has since been awarded with promotion to the Championship and also the League One Golden Glove award.
The Owls academy product has a whopping 20 clean sheets in 40 starts for Derby, while he had only conceded three goals in their final eight games of the season.
Sheffield Wednesday are to thank for his Golden Glove award
Kirkland has now taken to X to congratulate his former teammate and has claimed it was his training at Middlewoad Road that has helped him win the award.
The 42-year-old wrote: “Congratulations Joe pal I knew all those extra gym and core sessions at 8am every day I had you doing with me @swfc would pay off in the end.”
Sheffield Wednesday could do with Joe Wildsmith now
Joe Wildsmith never really got his career going with his boyhood club, but was often facing tough competition for his spot.
Kieren Westwood was arguably one of the best goalkeepers Wednesday have ever had, and that made it extremely difficult for Wildsmith to replace him.
However, the Owls could probably really do with him this summer. He has clearly grown into a great player since leaving Hillsborough, while Wednesday could go into the summer with no senior goalkeepers.
Hopefully Wednesday won’t be taking Derby’s place in League One too.