Sheffield Wednesday: Tom Lees is destined for the Premier League, believes Cameron Dawson

Cameron Dawson reckons Tom Lees is destined to be a Premier League player one day - and the goalkeeper hopes he can reach the top with the Owls.
Tom LeesTom Lees
Tom Lees

Lees has been one of Wednesday’s standout performers since swapping West Yorkshire for South Yorkshire in July 2014.

The 25-year-old has played a key role in the Owls chalking up 17 league shut outs and equalling the club’s clean sheet record in each of the last two campaigns.

Dawson told The Star: “I think it is a matter of time before Tom will be playing in the Premier League and hopefully it will be with us. He has proven with his performances for us that he is more than capable of playing at a higher level.”

Lees’ impressive displays prompted the Owls to tie him down to a new long-term contract earlier this season.

The centre-back made his 100th Owls appearance in their Hillsborough defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion last month and he has relished captaining the side in recent weeks.

“Tom has played a lot of games and done ever so well for us,” said Dawson. “He’s a very solid defender and you know what you are going to get from him.

“Tom is a very consistent, seven out of 10 performer and you need that, especially from defenders. Consistency is a massive thing and Tom knows his game inside out.”

Wednesday have been handed a major fitness boost ahead of Saturday’s home encounter with mid-table Ipswich Town. Keiren Westwood, selected in the provisional Republic of Ireland squad for their up-and-coming clash with Austria, is poised to return to action after missing their last two matches because of a back problem.

It is believed Westwood, who suffered the injury during the warm-up against Cardiff City last month, has resumed first-team training.

In Westwood’s absence, academy starlet Dawson has caught the eye, producing a string of fine saves in their victory over Queens Park Rangers.

Striker Steven Fletcher is in contention to be involved this weekend after having several stitches in a head wound sustained in the second half of the Derby loss.

Carvalhal was disappointed with the two goals Wednesday gave away at the iPro Stadium as their three-match unbeaten run on the road came to an abrupt end.

“They were Derby’s first goals from set pieces this season,” said Carvalhal, who was left fuming after referee James Linington turned down their seventh minute penalty appeal after Richard Keogh handled Adam Reach’s shot on the line. “These kind of things can happen.

“We are working hard on the defensive and offensive part of set pieces.

“Of course when we lose, we are not happy.

“But we will continue to work, fight and play our football.”

“We are still alive and we are still strong.”