To the uninitiated, George Hirst’s transfer from Sheffield Wednesday to OH Leuven may have seemed like a weird one.
But considering Leuven’s association with Leicester City – a club that reportedly wanted to sign the then Wednesday striker but would have had to pay substantially more than the Belgian side in compensation – and that of their manager, Nigel Pearson, with Hirst’s father, David – his former Owls teammate and friend – it wasn’t.
LEUVEN, BELGIUM – FEBRUARY 01: The former Leuven manager Nigel Pearson pictured during the Proximus League match between OH Leuven and KSV Roeselare at Den Dreef Stadium on February 1st, 2019 in Leuven, Belgium. (Photo by Plumb Images/Getty Images)
The move hasn’t gone entirely to plan, however. Six months into his Leuven spell, Hirst has scored just two goals (although he has created five). His last start came four games ago and he was left out completely at the weekend. The club from the hometown of Stella Artois lager are bottom of the Belgian second tier.
Pearson has paid for the latter statistic with his job – and that could leave Hirst in an awkward position.
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Without the former Sheffield Wednesday captain and Leicester manager, Elliott Moore – the defender currently on loan from the Foxes – is the only other English voice left in the Leuven dressing room.
LOMMEL, BELGIUM – JANUARY 27: George Hirst of OH Leuven warms up ahead of the Proximus League match between Lommel SK and OH Leuven at Soevereinstadion on January 27th, 2019 in Lommel, Belgium. (Photo by Plumb Images/Getty Images)
And considering Hirst’s recent form, it remains to be seen whether the soon-to-be 2-year-old will follow Moore to Leicester in the summer transfer window, as many had anticipated at the time of his transfer.
He’ll still have four years left on his contract when this season ends.
And if one thing is for sure – it’s that Hirst has done little, yet, to embarrass Sheffield Wednesday.
