The international break rarely offers much for Sheffield Wednesday fans to get excited about, but among the Owls players turning out for their country during this current period, James Beadle has taken an important step in his career.
So far this season, James Beadle has been Danny Rohl’s first-choice goalkeeper, and has largely been impressive in his second year with Sheffield Wednesday.
Owls fans were unhappy with one mistake Beadle made in the Steel City derby, and with youngster Pierce Charles breathing down his neck, the Brighton loanee will have to ensure his performances stay at the highest level from here on out.
Still, as one of the Sheffield Wednesday players on international duty this week, Beadle has managed to make huge progress in his career with England.
James Beadle impresses for England Under-21s
Ordinarily, James Trafford would be the man between the sticks for the England Under-21 team, but with the Burnley man was promoted to Lee Carsley’s senior squad for the current break after a number of drop-outs.
That left Beadle with a big opportunity, and he took his chance very well indeed. The Wednesday goalkeeper started the game against Spain’s Under-21 side on Friday night, to make just his third appearance for the Three Lions.
It was Beadle’s second start in consecutive games now for England, and the 20-year-old managed to keep another clean sheet, too. While keeping Azerbaijan out in the previous game was fairly straightforward, stopping the younger age group of the European champions this time out is no mean feat.
Beadle even picked up the player of the match award from SofaScore, with a rating of 7.8 out of 10. He made five saves, including two from within the box, and also registered an 86% pass success rate.
Despite one slight error leading to a shot, Beadle will no doubt be pleased with his work on the night, and will now be looking ahead to the future.
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James Beadle’s future is unclear
Beadle is now well-placed to make the England Under-21 number one shirt his own from here on out, especially if Trafford continues to be involved with the senior side.
That has to be Beadle’s goal, at least, but he will need to ensure his form with Wednesday improves as the season goes on.
| Statistic | James Beadle 2024/25 (all competitions) |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 15 |
| Goals conceded | 25 |
| Save % | 56 |
| Pass completion % | 67.5 |
| Crosses stopped % | 3.7 |
What the future holds for Beadle beyond this season is unclear. Brighton and Hove Albion obviously rate him very highly, but he will find it hard to break through there past Bart Verbruggen.
It is unlikely the youngster will remain at Hillsborough next season, be it temporarily or permanently, with the Owls naturally eager to step Pierce Charles up as one of their own.
So, while further international opportunities beckon, the next six months will be absolutely crucial for Beadle in determining his next steps at club level.