Keeper Chase Nears End

Owls boss Paul Sturrock has revealed he is close to bringing the search for a new number one to an end and hopes to have a new goalkeeper in place for the weekend.

Sturrock had a new Hillsborough number one at the top of his summer transfer list following the injury to David Lucas but has been kept waiting over the availability of his first choice - Liverpool and England's Scott Carson.

The former Leeds United man spent two months on loan at Hillsborough at the end of last season and helped the Owls avoid a swift return to League One football with some man of the match performances between the sticks.

But hopes of signing the 20-year-old on a season-long loan are fading with the start of the Champioship season edging closer.

Sturrock told the official SWFC website: 'It's not looking as if we're going to get Scott but until I get a certain 'No' I'm going to keep going down that road. Circumstances are going against us but there's still an opportunity.'

'We'll be panicky about it. But I think Sheffield Wednesday fans would have wanted their manager to wait as long as he could. If there was one name the fans wanted at the football club it was Scott Carson so I felt it was important to give him every opportunity. We're going to have to make sure we've got other irons in the fire.'

The Owls boss now hopes to have his new stopper in place in time for this Saturday's friendly clash with Middlesbrough at Hillsborough.

Sturrock told the official SWFC website: 'I am in discussions with another football club about trying to finalise something. I hope to have a goalkeeper in place for Saturday's game.'

Tickets for the friendly against Middlesbrough are now on general sale and will be available on the day priced at £15 for adults and £10 for concessions throughout the ground.

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