Leeds United loanee Harry Gray reveals his favoured position and what Sheffield Wednesday's aim is this season
Harry Gray was a sought-after talent this summer
Harry Gray wants to play as a striker for Sheffield Wednesday this season but the teenager appreciates it won’t be an easy task.
The forward, who does not turn 18 until October and still lives at home, has joined The Owls on a season-long loan from his boyhood club, Leeds United. Wednesday fought off serious competition for the youngster, who had a loan stint at Rotherham United in League One last term.
With Wednesday likely to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, leading the line for a club with big expectations would be a daunting challenge even for someone with much more experience than Gray, whose ‘welcome to League One’ moment came when he took an elbow to the head after 30 seconds against Stockport County.
“I want to be a striker, that's not unrealistic, but it's a lot,” he told BBC Radio Sheffield. “To be 17 and be a lone striker in League One, it is not going to happen every week. But also, I love playing in attacking positions in the 10 or off the left where I can cut in or go down the line. That's where I'd say the manager here has said, I guess, as a 10 or a left winger, but also up front when you’re needed.”
When choosing his next move, Leeds fan Gray had to weigh-up a number of factors before deciding what would be best for his career. He was not short of offers and clubs from across Europe have been keeping an eye on him.
“There's so many things that come into it such as location, where you're going to play, how much you're going to play, so many things like that you gotta take into account,” he said.
Gray, who has has been prolific at youth level, took his first steps into senior football with The Millers last season and scored three goals in 20 appearances for a struggling side who got relegated. The difference between under-21s football and men’s, is night and day, he explained.
He said:“You're not only playing for yourself, you're playing for people's jobs and people that work every week to come and watch you play, you’ve got to excite them, and then ultimately it gives yourself a bit of joy. But also, however many fans that are watching, they're getting that as well.”
It is hard to judge what is realistic for Wednesday this season because they are effectively starting from scratch, but Gray was not shy in saying what the aim is and how he can’t wait to get off the mark early.
“100%, get promoted,” he added. “That's that's the goal. That's definitely the aim. I enjoy having the pressure to win games and perform well and score goals. When you score your first goal, it's so much easier and it's a weight off your shoulders. I think if people are putting pressure on you, there's a good reason why they're doing it. I think Sheffield Wednesday is similar to Leeds when they were in the Championship. You're going to have to win every game, no matter what, and if you're not, you've not done your job. “