Sheffield Wednesday have suffered a huge setback in Pierce Charles’ fitness and availability, amid questions about his future at Hillsborough.

According to BBC Sheffield journalist Andy Giddings, the goalie might be sidelined for at least a few months due to a fresh injury worry.

The 20-year-old missed the most of the Championship campaign due to a shoulder injury sustained in August.

He returned in December, starting in a 1-1 tie against Watford, and has made nine league appearances this season.

However, the teenager is now expected to miss a significant amount of time after suffering another shoulder condition – this time the opposite of the one he experienced earlier in the season.

Fresh Pierce Charles injury concerns rattle Sheffield Wednesday.

The aforementioned Giddings has indicated that Charles could be out of action for a few months due to another shoulder ailment, which Wednesday does not need.

The 20-year-old played only 59 minutes in the team’s FA Cup third round defeat to Brentford last weekend and appeared to be in pain as he exited the pitch.

Early signs suggest that the shot-stopper’s injury could be long-term, following a difficult stop-start campaign.

This means he may not return to Henrik Pedersen’s side until March, with the team almost certain to be demoted to League One due to several point deductions.

Charles has been connected with a move away from Hillsborough this month, and the winter market is open until February 2.

It was reported earlier in January that French club Strasbourg had made an offer for the goalie. However, this latest setback will undoubtedly put an end to any immediate speculation about his future.

Wednesday will now most likely approach the EFL for special permission to sign a loanee goalkeeper, having previously used Cardiff City’s Ethan Horvath for the first half of the season when Charles’ first injury occurred.

Injuries have plagued the dreadful Sheffield Wednesday season, and Pierce Charles’ setback sums it all up.

Sheffield Wednesday entered the season with a weak roster, unable to bring in many new faces following the departure of major players in the summer.

Injuries have made matters worse throughout the season, and this new blow is a major setback for Pedersen, given that Charles is arguably the club’s finest player, aside from Barry Bannan.

Supporters will now be hoping that the season ends as quickly as possible, as Hillsborough is currently experiencing one fight after another.

This injury is also a major concern for Charles, as it is a significant setback to his development because missing out on two more months of regular game time at this age is a real curse – and when goalkeepers begin to experience shoulder problems, there is always the fear that it will become a regular problem, given the nature of their job.