Journalist Joe Crann has predicted a bright future for one Sheffield Wednesday player in particular.
Sheffield Wednesday now have an exciting first-team squad following what was an impressive summer transfer window, with nine new players having arrived.
And many of them have become instant fan favourites at Hillsborough, including names like Svante Ingelsson, with Olaf Kobacki another well-liked summer signing.
Last season, Danny Rohl boasted the oldest squad in the Championship. And whilst Wednesday’s still boast the fourth-oldest squad in the league, it’s a step in the right direction.
There’s some exciting youngsters starting to emerge in S6, be it from the youth academy or having been brought in, with Charlie McNeill one summer signing who could go on to big things with Sheffield Wednesday.
One youngster seems to have more headlines than most right now, and that’s Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pierce Charles.
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Joe Crann wowed by Pierce Charles after international appearances
Charles, 19, is a product of the Sheffield Wednesday academy, and despite having yet to make his league debut for the Owls, Charles has made his senior international debut with Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland are without former Owl Bailey Peacock-Farrell right now. Before the break, boss Michael O’Neill suggested he could play Charles for Nations League games against Belarus and Bulgaria.
Charles started both games and didn’t concede a single goal, with Northern Ireland drawing 0-0 against Belarus and then thumping Bulgaria 5-0 on Tuesday night.
Journalist Joe Crann hailed Charles after watching the game, posting on X:
Pierce Charles’ impressive stats for Northern Ireland vs Bulgaria
Chares has long been hailed as a goalkeeper with both shot-stopping and ball-playing ability.
He’s held in very high regards at Wednesday, and his stats against Bulgaria show us exactly why.
Despite making just the one save, Charles recorded the seventh-most touches of any Northern Ireland player on the night (39).
He also made the fifth-most passes of any of his teammates (23), with by far the most long balls attempted and completed of anyone on the pitch (18 attempted, seven complete).
Charles’ ball-playing skills even caught the eye of Belfast Live who gave him a 7/10 rating, adding: “Didn’t have a lot to do, excellent with the ball at his feet.”
With Rohl having implemented a passing style of play at Wednesday, Charles could be his perfect, future no.1.