Sheffield Wednesday looking to seal Liam Shaw contract after FA Cup heroics

Because anybody tuning into their Saturday evening coverage of the day’s FA Cup action, you’d never have known that Liam Shaw did what Liam Shaw did in the 90th minute of Sheffield Wednesday’s 2-0 win at Exeter City.

Picking up the ball with a well-timed interception on the edge of his own box, the 19-year-old drove into the Grecians’ half, drifted out to the right-hand side, beat a couple of men and crossed for Callum Paterson’s match-settling goal. Quite a moment.

On Match of the Day, only the latter seconds of the move were shown.

Disappointing for Shaw, presumably, but from an Owls standpoint, the versatile youngster is best kept under wraps.

A lifelong Wednesdayite, his contract is up this summer and while negotiations are understood to be going well, it’s a deal the club will want to get done sooner rather than later.

Asked about Shaw after his confident man of the match display, stand-in Owls boss Andy Holdsworth waxed lyrical on his former under-18s starlet.

“Liam can pay anywhere,” he said. “He’s played centre-half, he’s played centre-mid, he’s played centre-forward for me. He always gives you 100 per cent in everything he does.

“He grew into the game as it came because initially I thought it was a little bit tricky for him, but he managed it brilliantly.

“When you’ve got centre-halves doing little pirouettes in the middle of the field and making 90-yard runs to set up your second goal, what more do you want?!

“He’s aggressive in everything he does. He knows how to play and is a good lad. He wants to work, learn and listen all the time to get better.”

Shaw last spoke on his future last week, when he revealed he hoped a deal could be done swiftly.

He said: “It’s my boyhood club, it’s a dream to play for this club, it always is every time I go out there - it’d be perfect to stay.

“We’re in talks, but my agent’s sorting that out so I can’t really comment on that. Hopefully it’ll be done soon.”

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