Sheffield Wednesday youngster sees second switch u-turned as Owls take stock
Ernie Weaver will remain a Sheffield Wednesday player for the time being.
A decision is understood to have been made on the immediate future of Sheffield Wednesday youngster Ernie Weaver.
As first made public by The Wednesday Word, sources have indicated to The Star that a mooted loan stint in the National League with AFC Hornchurch has been called off for the time being, the morning after Owls defender Di’Shon Bernard went off with a knee issue in defeat at Notts County - suggesting he may be in contention for Wednesday involvement.
Owls boss Henrik Pedersen has indicated that Weaver has made the request to head out on loan in search for more senior match minutes having made two substitute appearances across the course of the League One season so far. The Star previously reported that advanced talks over a loan with Forest Green Rovers had ended earlier this month amid concerns over Ricardo Santos, though there have been suggestions that Rovers themselves had a part to play in that cancellation.
Wednesday have considered a loan for Weaver in recent weeks, with it understood that they feel the National League to be a good breeding ground for defenders. The 20-year-old, who was among those thrust into the spotlight of Championship football amid crisis last season, has featured in 12 senior matches since making his debut last August.
He recovered from a long-term foot injury across the course of the summer and has been developing his sharpness behind the scenes in the last months, also featuring in the EFL Trophy win at Salford City.
Weaver has more recently been the subject of calls for more involvement from sections of the club’s fanbase. Owls boss Henrik Pedersen admitted to The Star after the Notts County defeat that the centre-half’s situation would be evaluated given the club’s fresh injury concerns.
Speaking just last week on where the youngster’s immediate future sat, Pedersen told The Star: “I had a meeting with Ernie two days ago about the situation. Still, we're speaking loan, no loan, and we are still open to see if we can we can do something or to find the best solution solution for him, so we are in daily contact for what is the best solution for him.”