Why Sheffield Wednesday should offer Cameron Dawson fresh terms
According to Sheffield Star, Sheffield Wednesday shot-stopper Cameron Dawson has reiterated his desire to stay at his boyhood club beyond the end of the ongoing campaign, with his present deal set to expire in the summer of 2020.
The 24-year-old started the Owls’ last two fixtures between the sticks against Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic in the Championship, following a shoulder injury to first-choice Kieren Westwood. And he will be out of contract at Hillsborough at the end of the season.
The homegrown prospect’s unsettled contract situation at Sheffield Wednesday has put some of the Championship rivals on red alert, with Derby County, Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End all keeping close tabs on Dawson, while Scottish giants Rangers have also been credited with an interest in his services (h/t Sheffield Star).
Dawson rose through the youth ranks of Sheffield Wednesday before signing his first professional contract with the Owls back in April 2013.
He had to go through loan spells at Plymouth Argyle and Alfreton Town in the lower divisions before making his first-team bow at Hillsborough during the 2016-17 campaign.
That was followed by a further couple of loan stints at Wycombe Wanderers and Chesterfield. Things took a positive turnaround for Dawson when he was promoted to the No.1 role by former manager Jos Luhukay prior to the start of the 2018-19 season.
The 24-year-old started as many as 26 games in the Championship for the Owls the last term but he has once again found himself down the pecking order, with subsequent managers Steve Bruce, Lee Bullen and now Garry Monk all preferring the more experienced Westwood ahead of him.
However, Dawson got his chance early in the ongoing campaign when he replaced the injured Westwood during the Owls’ 3-1 victory over Reading in the season-opener back in August.
The homegrown star managed a clean-sheet in the following fixture against Barnsley that ended in a 2-0 victory for Sheffield Wednesday.
The talented shot-stopper once again played second-fiddle to Westwood, following his return from injury. However, the 35-year-old’s absence late in October due to another injury layoff paved the way for Dawson to start against Stoke City and Cardiff City in the Championship.
The 24-year-old has been largely been forced to feature as an understudy, despite recurrent injuries to Westwood over the first four months of the campaign.
However, as per the report from Sheffield Star, Dawson is expected to retain his spot in the playing XI when the Owls play host to Brentford on Saturday.
In fairness to Dawson, he has proven his worth whenever called upon by Garry Monk to do a job for the team between the sticks.
It is never easy to be the second-choice goalkeeper at any club but the academy graduate has done more than enough to strengthen his claims for a starting role in the coming months, having conceded only 3 goals in 6 games while managing 3 clean sheets in the process.
Cameron Dawson is among a host of players out of contract at Hillsborough at the end of the season and Sheffield Wednesday need to prioritize a new deal for him in the coming months.
It would be fair to say that Westwood is nearing the end of his playing days as a professional at the age of 35. With that in mind, the Owls need to keep hold of Dawson at all costs.
Plus, with Westwood suffering recurrent injuries this season and Dawson showing good form between the sticks, the Owls would be better off looking at the academy star as the designated No.1 in goal in the following months.
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Verdict
Having said that, Sheffield Wednesday offering fresh terms to extend the stay of Cameron Dawson is an absolute no-brainer.