Fraser Preston will be unsure of his future at Sheffield Wednesday as he’s out of contract this summer, has made only four appearances at senior level and hasn’t played a single minute of football under Garry Monk.
The 22-year-old may have a chance of being retained, however, as Steven Fletcher, Fernando Forestieri, Sam Winnall and Atdhe Nuhiu are also out of contract in the coming months, so Fraser might be a cheap option in attack next season.
Wednesday don’t have the budget to fund a summer spree, so Monk may have to call upon players in the reserves to bolster the squad next season. Many supporters from the Sheffield Wednesday Fans Forum want to see Preston given a shot.
Matthew Brown: “Problem is, Wednesday youth are hardly ever given a proper chance, with exception of the Luhukay era.
Ian Chambers: “Looked good when played. Unfortunately wasn’t often enough.”
Ashley Hoole: “Bench give him a chance.”
Paul Kirby: “Players out of contract in the summer that we are not offering a renewal are no longer assets to the club. Banish them to the reserves and give the young (and hungry) players a chance.”
Dave Hyatt: “You’ve got to start somewhere.”
Paul Warner: “It cannot be bad to give him a 1-year contract with an option for a second year. But (he) needs to be given bench time or loaned out.
Adam Eccles: “Deffo offer him a shot. He looked (good) under Jos. He has good potential and deffo deserves at least a year with an option to extend.”
Preston rose through the youth ranks to the fringes of Wednesday’s first-team in 2018, but he hasn’t featured at senior level since November 2018. The 22-year-old has been overlooked by Monk, but he’s making waves for the U23s.
Preston scored in August’s 3-1 win over Watford, October’s 5-1 win over Hull City, October’s 4-2 defeat to Bolton Wanderers, January 2020’s 2-1 win over Bolton Wanderers, February’s 2-0 win over Barnsley and March’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United.
Whether it’s enough to earn him an extension remains to be seen, but his wages won’t break the bank and he’s proven himself to be prolific in the reserves.