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Let’s cast our minds back to December 2018, before Christmas and before Jos Luhukay had been sacked as manager of Sheffield Wednesday.
The Owls had won just one in their previous ten games and Keiren Westwood was nowhere to be seen.
The 34-year-old was behind both Cameron Dawson and Joe Wildsmith in the pecking order and hadn’t played a single game in the campaign until Luhukay left the club. All it took was one match following his departure for a seemingly poor decision to be reversed.
Since the Dutchman departed, Wednesday have looked a considerably better team and it can be no coincidence that it’s happened with the return of experienced goalkeeper Westwood to the starting XI.
He has played a pivotal role in the Owls’ turnaround this term, particularly under Steve Bruce who showed faith in the goalkeeper after he’d initially been reinstated by those in caretaker charge.
Under Bruce, Sheffield Wednesday are unbeaten, having gone an incredible 12 games without suffering defeat. They have witnessed a meteoric rise, leaping to 11th in the table and just three points off the play-offs. It would be some achievement if they were to make it, and they will largely have the likes of the manager and Westwood to thank if they do.
Bruce’s teams are usually well drilled and he’s injected that into the Wednesday side, laying strong foundations in defence that have led to a remarkably consistent outfit.
Westwood has been imperative and his ten clean sheets in as few games as he’s played puts him among the best in the division in 2018/19.
Before he came into the team, the Yorkshire club had kept just two clean sheets in the league. His performances are only elevated because of that and there can be no underestimating the influence he’s had.
The Irishman has provided a calm influence behind the back four which only creates confidence and at the moment the Owls look unbeatable.
If a player of the season award could be done based on those who have performed the best under Bruce then the 6 ft 1 stopper would be a very strong contender.
