Why Will Grainger was able to play for Sheffield Wednesday with no need for permission after Wales call-up
Sheffield Wednesday got their Jersey Mike’s Trophy campaign off to a winning start.
Another 2-1 away win at Salford City saw Sheffield Wednesday extend their unbeaten run to five matches on Tuesday evening - with important minutes given to a number of players.
The comeback outing handed them three points in the opening round of their EFL Trophy group stage with most players chosen to provide much-needed minutes in what has already been a whirlwind start to the campaign. One of those was teenage starlet Will Grainger, who started the match and played 68 minutes before he was substituted for match-turner Callum Slattery.
Some were surprised to see the 17-year-old on the teamsheet given he was one of six current Owls called up for national team duty in the current international break - in his case for a trio of friendlies for Wales under-19s against USA, Norway and Northern Ireland. All of Wednesday’s other international players were absent.
Grainger was able to play in the AIG Stadium win purely due to timing and required no special dispensation from the Welsh FA to do so given he will make the trip to Marbella - where the three friendly matches will be played - on Thursday. Their first match-up of the break will take place later than many when they take on their US counterparts on September 29.
In a 68-minute outing that saw the Owls struggle for the most part going forward, the talented teenager acquitted himself well and contributed one of two key passes Wednesday completed in the clash. Ben Woodburn opened the scoring for the Ammies in a one-sided first half before goals from Davis Keillor-Dunn and a Jamal Lowe penalty handed the travellers three cup points.
Grainger is seen as one of Wednesday’s brightest lights and is the subject of an in-house development plan, having fallen down the pecking order a touch in terms of first team exposure after the arrivals of the likes of Harry Gray and Keillor-Dunn. An encouraging showing at Salford will have done his claims no harm.
Speaking to The Star earlier this month, Owls boss Henrik Pedersen said on his route to first team minutes after the signing of further attacking players: “Of course it is more difficult. But we still have a clear plan with Will. He will also get his game practice for us and we have a clear development plan for his training, for his games. But of course there are good offensive players now. I am sure that we will get him integrated. And he will also get some game practise.”