Update emerges in Sheffield Wednesday, Jack Hunt situation after Reading FC U-turn | OneFootball

Former Sheffield Wednesday defender Jack Hunt is back training with the club after a trial at Reading, but he is unlikely to be offered a contract.

Former Sheffield Wednesday defender Jack Hunt has reportedly returned to training with the club.

That's according to The Star, who claim that Hunt has linked up with Wednesday for the second time in recent months after Reading decided against offering him a contract following a short trial period.

Hunt scored two goals and provided 17 assists in 180 appearances during two spells with the Owls, and he was involved in two Championship play-off campaigns during his time at Hillsborough, as well as scoring the winning penalty in his side's remarkable League One play-off semi-final victory over Peterborough United in 2023.

Jack Hunt returns to Sheffield Wednesday training amid EFL transfer negotiations

The 34-year-old spent the last two seasons with Bristol Rovers, but he was released by the Gas in the summer following their relegation to League Two, and after an unsuccessful trial with Bradford City, he returned to Wednesday's Middlewood Road training ground in an attempt to maintain his fitness while he searched for a new club.

It looked as though Hunt was set to sign for Reading, but the change of management at the Select Car Leasing Stadium last month that saw Leam Richardson replace Noel Hunt appears to have ended his chances of earning a deal with the Royals, and he is now back with the Owls once again.

During Hunt's previous training spell with the club, Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen praised the defender for his attitude and the guidance he was giving the Owls' younger players, but he admitted that he could not provide him with any guarantees about a potential contract offer.

"I didn’t promise him anything," Pedersen told The Star last month.

"But he’s a former player, and we have to take care of them.

"He’s a fantastic human, though, and how he’s giving to the other players, how he gave to the youngsters in the U21 game… I think he’s close to doing something else, maybe getting a contract somewhere else, but I don’t know the latest update.

"But he’s been really, really good for us and the young boys. And if we can help sometimes then we’ll do it."

After a nightmare few months of financial turmoil towards the end of former owner Dejphon Chansiri's tenure, Wednesday are currently under five separate transfer embargoes, and they were blocked from making signings in the summer window as the Thai businessman could not provide proof of funds to the EFL.

However, with Chansiri no longer in control after putting the club into administration and an improved cash flow situation after supporters ended their boycott of tickets and merchandise, the Owls are in negotiations with the EFL about the possibility of bringing in one or two free agents.

While that could open the door to Hunt being offered a deal, The Star claim that central defence and central midfield are the two areas being prioritised by Pedersen if he is given the green light to make new signings, with ex-Leeds United captain Liam Cooper one player on his radar.

Henrik Pedersen should avoid emotional Jack Hunt call after Sheffield Wednesday training return

Hunt is an incredibly popular figure at Hillsborough, and his winning penalty against Peterborough two years ago has earned him a place in Wednesday history, so the club should be praised for allowing him to train with them to maintain his fitness.

There is no doubt that the Owls desperately need to strengthen their threadbare squad, particularly with the busy winter period approaching, but as the EFL are only likely to sanction one or two signings, if any at all, they must carefully decide which positions are most in need of bolstering.

With Yan Valery, Liam Palmer and Sean Fusire all capable of playing right-back or right wing-back, there is little need for Hunt to be added to the squad, so while his return would be welcomed from a sentimental perspective, reinforcements in other areas of the squad should be targeted instead.