A Sheffield Wednesday academy graduate has impressed whilst on loan away from the Championship club.
Speaking to Hartlepool Mail, John Askey admitted that Owls loanee Ciaran Brennan ‘never really looked troubled’ on his debut.
Ciaran Brennan joined Sheffield Wednesday’s academy in 2013 and made his way up the youth ranks until signing his first professional contract in 2018.
After a brief loan spell with Notts County, the defender earned himself a more regular place in the team under Darren Moore, making eleven appearances in League One during the 2021/22 season.
Brennan was then sent out on loan to Swindon Town last season and was never really able to force his way back into Sheffield Wednesday’s set-up, with Xisco Munoz opting against including him in his Championship squad this term.
While the centre-back was previously highly regarded at Hillsborough, he now looks like he could have played his final game for the Owls ahead of his contract expiry in the summer.
Brennan will continue to fight for his career though and it appears he enjoyed an impressive debut after joining Hartlepool United on loan this month.
The former Republic of Ireland U19 international made his debut at the weekend in their 5-1 FA Trophy win against City of Liverpool, with manager John Askey admitting that nobody really caused him any problems’.
Speaking after the game, Askey said: “He looked steady. He talks well. It was a good one to get him into the back three for.
“He never really looked troubled, nobody really caused him any problems. I think they had the one shot at goal from the free kick where we were sloppy in the first minute. We didn’t have to do that much defending but when we did we did okay.
“He’s played around 17 games for Sheffield Wednesday – a change of manager changed things for him and he went out on loan to Swindon and did quite well there so although he’s young, he’s 23. He’s got a little bit of experience and played at a good level.”
Is Ciaran Brennan’s Sheffield Wednesday career over?
Hartlepool currently sit in 12th place in the National League and have conceded an underwhelming 42 goals in 22 games – more than any other team outside the relegation zone.
Ciaran Brennan will be hoping he can make a positive impact during his time with the club and could potentially make his league debut against Chesterfield this weekend.
Though it would be a big surprise to see him ever make a comeback for Sheffield Wednesday, with the defender unlikely to see his contract renewed and could instead leave permanently next month.
Brennan still isn’t that ‘young’ for a Championship footballer and is the same age as Di’Shon Bernard, who is at a much higher level playing in the same position as the Owls academy product.