Charlie McNeill became Sheffield Wednesday’s eighth summer arrival earlier this month.
The striker spent two years at Manchester United after leaving neighbours City and went onto net 49 goals for their youth teams.
McNeill failed to impress out on loan at Newport County and Stevenage though, before being released by the Red Devils this summer.
Sheffield Wednesday’s interest in the youngster arrived shortly after confirmation he would leave Old Trafford, before he put pen to paper on a contract with the Owls last week.
McNeill joins Bailey Cadamarteri, Michael Smith, Mallik Wilks and Jamal Lowe all vying for a place in attack, while it remains to be seen whether the club will go in for another No.9.
McNeill is ready to make an ‘impact’ at Sheffield Wednesday
The 20-year-old seems well aware that he won’t be the first name on the team-sheet under Danny Rohl, but he has promised supporters that he will still make ‘an impact’.
Speaking to the club, McNeill said: “I want to try and play a lot of games this season.
“That’s what I’m hoping for. I know that I’m not going to play every game because it’s a massive squad and there are very, very good players in it. So it’s going to be hard every week, everyone is going to be pushing each other, but as soon as I heard the interest from Wednesday last year I was watching out for them and hoping they stayed up.
When asked what he will bring to the Owls’ squad, he replied: “Hard work every game, honest performances, trying to get goals and assists and helping the team – even if I’m not playing, if I’m coming off the bench and making an impact. I just want to help the squad in every way possible that I can.”
The Owls shouldn’t base their expectations off his loan spells
Looking at McNeill’s record in United’s academy, you would think Wednesday had an exceptional young talent on their hands.
There is only a tiny bit of doubt due to his difficult loan spells further down the pyramid, where he managed only three goals in 23 league games.
However, his time at Newport was his first taste of senior football and he can be forgiven for not hitting the ground running. Meanwhile, his spell at Stevenage looked to have got off to a good start when he scored on his debut, before it was cut short due to injury after only three games.
If McNeill can stay fit then he has a real opportunity at Hillsborough, with no pressure on the youngster at all.
The forward has been brought in as a back-up and if he can enjoy a few positive cameos, then it will act as a good way to ease him into Championship life and he can eventually build up his confidence and performances until he can push for a starting position.