Sheffield Wednesday are believed to having a look at young Derby County striker, James Ward, ahead of next season.

The 18-year-old has featured in the U18 Premier League and FA Youth Cup for the Rams over the last couple of seasons, but looks likely to move on from Pride Park this summer when his scholarship comes to an end.

With that in mind, and amid plenty of changes at Middlewood Road this summer, The Star understands that Ward has been spending some time with Wednesday’s youth setup as he looks to showcase his ability in South Yorkshire.

James Ward is at Sheffield Wednesday

It’s understood that the teenager was one of the trialists who featured for the club’s U18s a few days ago against Barnsley, starting the tie in S6 that ended in a 2-1 victory for the visitors. Perry Ridge got the goal for the hosts, getting on the end of a Harry Chadbourne corner.

Wednesday’s U18s do still have 10 games left between now and the end of the season, and Ward will no doubt be hoping to feature in a couple more of them as he continues his quest for a contract with the Owls. Next up is a trip to Florence Park to face Colchester United later this week.

There will be another changing of the guard this summer as several players leave the club at the end of their contracts and scholarships, but there will also be a desire to bring in some new faces that could try and follow in the footsteps of the current crop who have taken the step up to senior level.