Middlesbrough could be reunited with a familiar face on Wednesday night, as former goalkeeper Joe Lumley is being lined up by Sheffield Wednesday to help solve their latest goalkeeping crisis.
The troubled Owls were dealt another blow at the weekend when Ethan Horvath was sent off deep into stoppage time during their defeat to Charlton, ruling him out through suspension. Horvath had only recently joined on an emergency loan after first-choice keeper Pierce Charles suffered an injury.
With both Horvath and Charles unavailable, manager Henrik Pedersen was left facing the possibility of handing 18-year-old Wales youth international Logan Stretch his senior debut. Stretch has yet to play a single minute of professional football.
However, Sheffield Wednesday have moved quickly to secure another emergency loan and have identified Bristol City’s Joe Lumley as their top target. The 30-year-old joined City on a free transfer in the summer but has featured only once so far, in the League Cup. The deal is reportedly set to be approved by the EFL in time for Wednesday’s clash against Middlesbrough.
Lumley spent the 2021–22 season as Boro’s first-choice goalkeeper before joining Reading on loan the following year. Now, he could find himself facing his former club in a crucial Championship fixture.
The goalkeeping issue is just the latest setback in what has become a chaotic season for bottom-of-the-table Sheffield Wednesday. The club is reportedly facing a winding-up petition from HMRC over an outstanding £1 million tax bill, while also operating under five separate EFL embargoes.
Financial turmoil has already taken its toll behind the scenes, with staff wages repeatedly delayed this year. Set-piece coach Andy Parslow terminated his contract during the international break, and long-serving physio Antonio Quintela is expected to join Nottingham Forest.
Frustrated supporters have also planned a boycott of Wednesday night’s televised game against Middlesbrough, urging fans to protest against owner Dejphon Chansiri. The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust described the fixture as a “prime opportunity to show, on national television, that we refuse to keep funding our own decline.”
After slipping to the bottom of the table following their loss to Charlton and Sheffield United’s win over Watford, Pedersen remains determined to keep spirits up.
“We know the situation is difficult,” the manager said. “But the way the players fought in the second half gives us courage and belief that we can get results. We can compete with many teams in this league — we just need to be brave from the first whistle, not only when we’re chasing the game.”