Ahead of Friday’s meeting with Queens Park Rangers, Garry Monk revealed in Sheffield Wednesday’s pre-match press conference that Manuel Hidalgo won’t feature. The 20-year-old joined from US Triestina this month and has yet to make an appearance, but Monk was asked if he could feature in the FA Cup clash after being pictured training with the first-team.
Monk said: “No (he won’t play). As I said he’s been brought in initially (to be) with the Under-23s, to build him up through there. As it is with young players, it’s more of a long-term view. (Hidalgo) missed a little bit of football. So he’s there to train and get fit. Like all the young lads, when the opportunity to come to the first team, if they’re doing well enough, that’ll be then.”
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Hidalgo is contracted until 2021, so he has 18 months to prove his worth to Monk. The Argentine currently has Kadeem Harris, Jacob Murphy and Adam Reach for competition, however, so it’s unlikely he’ll be seen in the first-team this season unless injury struck.
And although managers often ring the changes for the FA Cup, Monk wants to ease Hidalgo back into action as he’s played no football this season. The 20-year-old spent the first half of the campaign as an unused substitute for Triestina, so he’ll be short of match fitness.
Wednesday’s ongoing pursuit for another winger suggests Hidalgo isn’t close to getting first-team football either – the Owls were interested in Josh Sims before he re-joined New York Red Bulls. Fans eager to see Hidalgo may have to be patient.
