This article is part of Football League World’s ‘The Verdict‘ series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Sheffield Wednesday have extended the loans of Connor Wickham, Alessio Da Cruz, Josh Windass and Jacob Murphy until the end of the season. 

The Owls will needed to secure such agreements to ensure the four players are available for the rest of the season due to the delay, with their current loan deals set to expire today.

The Yorkshire club announced today that agreements had been made to extend the loan deals of all four players.

But how big of a boost are the extensions?

We asked our FLW writers for their thoughts...

Alfie Burns

It’s an encouraging sign on the back of some irritating departures; you’ve got to say.

The four players sticking around means that Monk has just about enough senior depth to see out the season, which, at one stage, didn’t look like it was going to be an option.

Their short-term commitment has to be admired and as Wednesday gear up for a massive rebuild in the summer, they’ve got their chance to earn a potential permanent deal.

That has to be the aim for these players now. They are playing for their futures and that can only be a good thing for Monk.

George Harbey

It's undoubtedly a boost for Wednesday as they will want to kick on and finish the season on a high under Garry Monk.

Although they don't have an awful lot to play for between now and the end of the season, Wednesday will still be looking to end the season strongly and give themselves real momentum heading into next season, and these loan extensions will help them enjoy a bright end to the campaign.

Wickham is starting to come into his own in front of goal and he has been an impressive player for the Owls, whilst Da Cruz is also starting to find his feet and is starting to become a dangerous player for Monk's men.

After losing Steven Fletcher and Morgan Fox, two really important players for the Owls, they couldn't afford to lose any more key players, so this is a relief for the club for sure.

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Jacob Potter

This is a real boost for the Owls.

They really impressed me in their last match against Bristol City, and deserved to pick up the three points at Ashton Gate.

Murphy and Wickham in particular have stood out for me in terms of the loan players currently with the club, and Garry Monk will be delighted to get an agreement in place to extend their stays with the club.

I'm surprised they're extending Windass' loan spell, as he's not exactly hit the ground running at Hillsborough, and his time with the club so far has been disrupted with injury problems.

But Monk will want competition for places from now until the end of the season, and extending these loan deals will certainly provide him with that.

It's a smart move for both parties involved.