For Sheffield Wednesday talent Pierce Charles, Saturday 12th October 2024 will be a date that lives long in the memory.
Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill switched his goalkeepers up and handed Charles a chance to play ahead of former Wednesday loanee Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
Wednesday academy graduate Charles was praised by the national media – despite not really being tested too much in the 0-0 draw with Belarus away from home.
Charles has been the cup goalkeeper under Danny Rohl this season, playing against Hull, Grimsby and Blackpool, with the Owls looking forward to a test against Premier League outfit Brentford.
The 19-year-old looks set for a bright future at Hillsborough. He’s currently working hard with the senior ranks under Rohl and alongside James Beadle, the club have two fine young goalkeepers.
What Michael O’Neill said about Sheffield Wednesday gem Pierce Charles
It’s quite something for the goalkeeper to be handed his debut on the international stage as a teenager and his confidence must be through the roof right now.
O’Neill has been quizzed on the decision to put Charles into the starting eleven and it’s a call that he had no qualms in making.
He told the Independent: “I’ll be honest that it was in my head regardless of Bailey’s situation because I felt the game would give us an opportunity to see Pierce play.
“He played very well in the under-21s, he’s played very well in the under-19s, we’ve had him in and he gave a very assured performance.
“His distribution is well noted and well talked about but as a goalkeeper you have to have more than that he knows that. But, I thought his choice of passes gave a real assurance to the back three.”
Charles is future Sheffield Wednesday number one
Right now, Rohl is managing Charles brilliantly. It would have been easy for the boss to sign two goalkeepers in the summer but instead, he just pursued Beadle.
The 19-year-old academy graduate looks like someone who can step up in the future and he will be extremely satisfied with how things have gone so far this season.
Charles’ distribution is a strong attribute but that doesn’t take anything away from his other strong points as a goalkeeper.
He is strong at coming for crosses, saves shots and also grasps the concept of managing a defensive unit in senior football.
The Owls have a real ace in their pack with Charles and with Beadle only on loan, it might not be too long before the stopper is grasping the chance to be the number one.