BBC Radio Sheffield broadcaster Rob Staton has defended Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Cameron Dawson. The Owls stopper was left on the bench last night as Wednesday defeated Stockport County on penalties in the Carabao Cup.

Now, speaking on Football Heaven, the journalist has jumped to the defence of the Sheffield-born goalkeeper. After he saved two penalties last night, many fans have been calling for Devis Vasquez to keep the gloves for the trip to Hull on Saturday.

Dawson was the number-one custodian last season at Hillsborough. He made 33 appearances for the Owls and kept a pretty impressive 17 clean sheets for the club he supported as a youngster.

It was the second promotion in succession for Dawson. The year previous he had been on loan with Exeter in League Two as they won promotion to the third tier.

It does seem as though Dawson comes in for a certain level of criticism. Staton doesn’t believe that much of it is justified and has now said his piece on the debate surrounding the Wednesday goalkeeper.

He told Football Heaven: “I do not understand some of the stick that people give Cameron Dawson. It’s remarkable. Not just because he’s a local lad and a great guy. I just don’t get it. He’s done nothing wrong apart from that one goal against Peterborough and because of the Miracle of Hillsborough that didn’t matter anyway. Where is this evidence that he’s not good enough.”

Wednesday goalkeeper Dawson defended by Staton

This was a nice touch from Staton and in fairness, he’s got a point. Dawson has always given his all for Wednesday and he certainly couldn’t do anything about the Southampton goals that were scored on Friday night.

The performance of Vasquez last night wasn’t bad. He couldn’t do anything with the goal and he did manage to save two penalties during the shootout to guide Wednesday through to the next round.

Still, the Owls were playing League Two opposition. It’s hardly a great barometer for what he’s capable of and Dawson will surely remain as the club’s number one goalkeeper for now.

The 28-year-old deserves this opportunity at Wednesday. He’s done the hard yards out on loan and Xisco Munoz would be wise to keep faith with Dawson moving forwards.

Report: Sheffield Wednesday closing in on French midfielder

Sheffield Wednesday are closing in on the signing of Portimonense defensive midfielder Momo Diaby, reports claim.

Sheffield Wednesday have made some decent signigns in recent weeks, with their most recent loan capture of AC Milan goalkeeper Devis Vasquez taking their summer tally to eight new arrivals.

And it looks like a ninth could be arriving very soon with reports coming out of Portugal suggesting that the Owls are closing in on the loan signing of Diaby, 26, from Portuguese outfit Portimonense.

Record (via Sport Witness) says that the Owls are closing in on the signing and that Wednesday will have the option to buy – though how much for remains to be seen.

Diaby has 121 career appearances to his name having spent time with fellow Portuguese outfit Pacos de Ferreira in the past – the Frenchman is yet to ply his trade outside of Portugal.

The owls picked up their first win of the Xisco Munoz era last night, beating Stockport County on penalties in the opening round of the EFL Cup.

A much-needed addition in the middle…

With Diaby set to join the ranks, as per reports, Munoz now has the likes of Will Vaulks, Tyreeq Bakinson, Barry Bannan, and George Byers in the middle of midfield.

Still, Munoz’s options remain pretty limited but with another in the mix it takes the pressure of others ahead of what promises to be an arduous and tiring season in the Championship.

Diaby is relatively unknown and for a 26-year-old, he doesn’t have a huge amount of experience.

But Wednesday have had luck in he foreign markets in the past – in the limited times that they’ve looked overseas – and there’s a chance that Diaby could well be a shrewd capture for the club.

The owls return to action v Hull City in the Championship this weekend.