David Stockdale and Cameron Dawson face 'battle for gloves' at Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore is predicting a "battle for the gloves" at Hillsborough following the arrival of David Stockdale and return of Cameron Dawson. Both goalkeepers were first choices during successful seasons at their respective teams last term.

Stockdale, 36, was an ever present in the Wycombe Wanderers side that narrowly missed out on promotion to the Championship following a play-off final defeat to Sunderland, while Dawson, 10 years his junior, played all but one game as Exeter clinched promotion from League Two as runners-up. The latter was on loan in Devon from Hillsborough, having previously also been farmed out to Plymouth, Alfreton, Wycombe and Chesterfield.

The only previous times Dawson has hit double figures in a Football League season came in 2018/19 and 2019/20 when he managed 26 and 24 respectively for the Owls in competition with Keiren Westwood and Joe Wildsmith. The latter, who is only five months younger than Dawson and followed him through the youth ranks at Hillsborough, has turned down the offer of a new contract from Moore and is moving on after playing second fiddle to on-loan Burnley net-minder Bailey Peacock-Farrell in 2021/22.

Peacock-Farrell has since returned to Turf Moor and that leaves Stockdale and Dawson to fight for Wednesday's place between the sticks and Moore is expecting an even contest. The Owls chief believes Dawson is now a different proposition with a full season of senior football behind him, but Stockdale's claims to a starting place are also strong, especially give that Moore appears to be placing a big emphasis on experience this close season.

Ex-Fulham keeper Stockdale has played Premier League and European football in the past and was also called up to