Darren Moore suggests preseason opportunity for Sheffield Wednesday’s emerging youngsters
Darren Moore will be roping in plenty of Sheffield Wednesday’s young players, and has laid down the gauntlet for them to earn a first team place.
As things stand, Wednesday only just make it into double figures with regards to the amount of first team players that they have on their books, with a big summer transfer window expect as Moore gets on with an important rebuild at the club.
The situation very much leaves the door open for several of the talented young players at the club, with many members of Lee Bullen’s U23 setup likely to get a chance to show what they’re capable in preseason.
Players such as Liam Waldock, Ryan Galvin and Ciaran Brennan have already spent plenty of time with the senior setup over the last year, but relegation may now give an opportunity for recently-promoted U18s such as Alex Bonnington, Paulo Aguas and LFE Championship Apprentice of the Year, Will Trueman.
Moore has a good history when it comes to youth development and giving youngsters and opportunity at senior level – a fact that will no doubt give the youth food for thought ahead of what could prove to be a pivotal year in their young careers.
"I've said before to the academy manager Steve Haslam here that any young player, certainly at the professional development phase in the U18s and U23s, should come back with a whetted appetite in feeling that if ever they have got a chance of stepping into the first-team here at Sheffield Wednesday it is now… I believe in youth and I believe there is a lot of good young players.
"It's getting their mindset right and adding to their physical attributes that they have. It is merging the two together aided with consistency would give them the opportunity to play in our first-team… There has been many occasions already in my managerial career where I have put young players in because I feel it's right.
"There are younger players that have re-signed contracts with us here from the academy stepping on that should be coming back with the appetite whetted in terms of having an opportunity to stake a claim for the first-team.
"The ball is in their court. Preseason will be key for them. It will be hard but there will be opportunities for them to show what they are about. If they do show it, the platform will be there for them to perform."
Moore explained recently that they are currently finalising plans for the club’s preseason as they plan to return to work in a few weeks’ time around the start of July, however he said that he was unable to confirm the dates and opponents at this point in time.
There are still questions over the futures of Josh Dawodu, Charles Hagan and Josh Render after they were offered new deals following the expiration of their previous contracts, while the club will also be hoping to see more of Korede Adedoyin next season after he returns from a long-term injury that plagued his first campaign at Hillsborough.
Wednesday are also looking at trying to get Southampton youngster, David Agbontohoma, 19, on board once he becomes a free agent.