Sheffield Wednesday host Coventry City in the FA Cup fourth round tonight, and it looks like one Owls teen will be making his debut.
Sheffield Wednesday see Coventry City head to Hillsborough for the second time in as many weeks tonight.
The Sky Blues visited last weekend in the Championship and eventually left with all three-points after a 2-1 win.
Danny Rohl may be welcoming a break from league action after back-to-back defeats in the Championship, and he’ll likely name a strong XI as he did against Cardiff City in the third round.
But one key change he’ll be making for tonight is in goal.
Pierce Charles set to debut for Sheffield Wednesday
Rohl revealed ahead of tonight’s game that youngster Pierce Charles is set to make his first-team debut in goal, with Cameron Dawson suffering from a hand injury, and with James Beadle cup tied.
Charles, 19, is yet to make his debut for the Owls first-team but has been turning heads in the youth sides, being an U19 international with Northern Ireland too.
He looks set to become the next Owls youngster to feature under Rohl, after the breakthrough of Bailey Cadamarteri, followed by debuts for Joey Phuthi and Gui Siqueira.
Why Coventry City clash is extra important for Charles
As things stand, Beadle will be leaving Sheffield Wednesday in the summer when his loan deal expires, and Dawson when his contract expires.
That’ll leave Charles as the only first-team goalkeeper, after he makes his first-team debut tonight that is, and so he really has a chance to stake his claim for the starting spot next season.
Whether Rohl entrusts him with that role remains to be seen, and Rohl will have to bring in another one or two goalkeepers anyway.
But Charles looks like he might have the first say on who plays in goal for Sheffield Wednesday next season.
If he impresses tonight then he’ll certainly give Rohl food for thought; Dawson has been hit and miss this season and Beadle looks as though he’ll definitely return to Brighton in the summer, and go elsewhere on loan.
So for Charles, tonight’s game is especially important as it could dictate his future at Sheffield Wednesday, and indeed the next couple of years for him.
Kick off is at 7:45pm.