Sheffield Wednesday’s trial of Derby County defender James Ward appears not to have led to an immediate move, after he trained with the club while they assessed potential additions. The situation matters because Wednesday were exploring options to strengthen their defensive depth amid wider uncertainty around the club.

Ward, a young Derby player, was reported to have joined Wednesday on trial rather than on a permanent or loan deal. No agreement had been announced, and the club’s interest was therefore understood to be exploratory, with any next step dependent on the outcome of the assessment.