What Sheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk had to say on the prospect of blooding more youngsters

Urhoghide has made a big impact, starring in the right-back position against Premier League Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup and Leeds United.

Wednesday have been crying out for more youth, pace and athleticism in their squad...and Urhoghide possesses all those attributes. He is an exciting prospect.

And the signs are that it will not be long before Urhoghide is joined in the first-team by more players from the Championship club's youth system.

Midfielder Alex Hunt has twice been included in the matchday squad in the past month and winger Ben Hughes was an unused at Elland Road last weekend.

As manager Garry Monk has demonstrated with Urhoghide, he is not afraid of giving the next generation an opportunity to shine. One of his long-term aims is to reduce the average age of the squad, which is currently one of the oldest in the division.

Since Monk's arrival, Wednesday's academy players have frequently trained with the senior team.

Monk told The Star: "I have always done it. I think it's a good thing to do.

"It gives me a good chance to have a good look at them. It gives them a good chance to understand what it is to train at a first team level.

"They're involved with everything. It's the preparation and we use some of them to prepare against.

"Then you look at which ones are pushing and doing well and we watch the games for our Under-23s and when they're with us. That's how you work with young players and it works both ways.

"I get to see them, they get to see us and how they adapt to it. That's part of the progression and how you create that pathway.

"I've always said, it, if you have an academy at a club, it's important that you use it. But the number one is that they have to be good enough and they have to be ready enough.

"Not everybody will do it but the ones that can will try to create an opportunity.

"Being with us and being around first team players is a way to help them make that step and see what is the bar is in terms of what they've got to reach."

Eight academy players joined in training with the first-team on Tuesday, four on Wednesday and six on Thursday.

“It does [benefit younger players], and it works both ways,” said Monk. “It keeps the first team players on their toes, to know that this player is coming through.

“It might not be right now but in a year or two's time.

“But it's also about letting them see how first team players act and their attitude in training and intensity, because there is a difference, a massive difference. That's not that they don't train well with the academy and the U23s. Of course they do, but it's a different level to first team level.”

Patience is key with younger players, according to Monk.

“You have to be very, very exceptional to make the jump from a 23s game or training into a first team game,” he said. “It's quite rare in the Championship; it's actually more common in the Premier League.

“Most will always go through a process of being around the first team squad before they get there.

“It's to give them that expectation of where they need to get to and the level of what is expected of them.”

Wednesday bolstered their development squad by signing Argentinian winger Manuel Hidalgo from Italian side Triestina earlier this week.

“He is very good technically,” said Monk. “His work-rate and attitude is good.

"The club felt it was an opportunity to bring a young lad in and one with quality and ability.

"We will try to progress him at that level like we are trying to do with all the young lads.”

Hidalgo, 20, is one for the future.

But Monk has urged the Owls’ youngsters to keep progressing and giving him selection headaches.

He said: “There are a few who are involved in the squads who have done well. We also have to remember the first-team is very competitive and we have good numbers in there.

"As I have said with any youngsters, if they do the right things and progress how we want them to progress, it is my job to try and give them an opportunity.

"It is their job to work, to keep their head down and progress.

"If an opening comes up, I won't hesitate to put one of them in there but they have to earn the right and do all the things that we need them to do.”

He hopes more will follow in Urhoghide’s footsteps in the future.