Fernando Forestieri looks finished at Sheffield Wednesday after being dropped from the matchday squad and criticised by his manager for a lack of fitness. The 30-year-old is also out of contract in a matter of days and it doesn’t look like Wednesday will retain him beyond 2020.
Forestieri’s future has looked uncertain for the longest time, as he’s struggled for form, fitness and playing time this season, but Garry Monk has spoken out about his exclusion in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest (June 20) which suggests a departure is on the cards.
Monk told Yorkshire Live on Saturday: “The decision (… ) was around fitness. It’s the main part of what we’re facing in the next few weeks and there’s going to be a big emphasis for us. It’s about getting through those 90 minutes and not breaking down. Fernando came behind the whole group, he’s been playing catch-up ever since and that’s the reason he wasn’t in the squad today.”
Wednesday were allowed up to nine substitutes against Forest but Forestieri still missed out. Monk opted to start with Jordan Rhodes and Connor Wickham in attack, naming Steven Fletcher as one of the nine on the bench.
Monk had a goalkeeper (Cameron Dawson), left-back (Morgan Fox), right-back (Moses Odubajo), centre-back (Tom Lees), two central midfielders (Joey Pelupessy, Alex Hunt), two left-wingers (Adam Reach, Alessio Da Cruz) and only one striker (Fletcher) brought in as cover. That may speak volumes about Forestieri’s chances of getting a new deal.
