Will Grainger will

Sheffield Wednesday will have a home representative at this summer’s under-19 European Championship - but it won’t be Will Grainger.

The Owls starlet burst onto the scene in the latter stages of the last difficult season, earning his first start in the final match of the campaign having scored a belting first senior goal in an otherwise bitterly disappointing defeat at Oxford United. The 17-year-old has represented Wales at under-19 level for the last 18 months, playing ahead of his age group and earning six caps along the way, though those caps did not arrive in the Euros qualification process.

Grainger was involved in two preparatory friendlies earlier this month but has not been selected in Chris Gunter’s 20-player squad for the competition, which will be hosted in Wales from June 28 as the Dragons kick things off against Spain.

Wednesday goalkeeper Logan Stretch, who made his senior debut last season when he came off the bench in an FA Cup defeat to Brentford after injury to Pierce Charles, has made the squad and will be hoping to add to his five caps at under-19 level but will face strong competition from Coventry City’s Luis Lines.

Beyond the Spain curtain-raiser, Stretch’s side will take on Germany on July 1 before concluding the group stage against Denmark on July 4 in what looks likely to be a testing group stage.

The news does mean Grainger will be fresh to make his return to Owls pre-season at the end of the month. The youngster is one of a number of Wednesday players currently in the midst of discussions over a new contract, with things expected to reach a positive conclusion.