Sheffield Wednesday didn’t get the result they wanted (or perhaps deserved) against Leicester City this weekend, but one man stood out from the crowd and proved he’s ready to be the star of the show this season.
After everything that has happened at Sheffield Wednesday this summer, it’s no surprise that most commentators and experts expect them to suffer a defeat against Leicester City on Sunday.
However, the Owls put on a valiant performance, taking the lead and almost taking something away from the King Power Stadium before Wout Faes’ late goal broke Wednesday hearts.
Henrik Pedersen was happy of his players, and Wednesday fans were pleased with what they witnessed, but one individual stood out the most on the day.
Pierce Charles just proved his worth vs Leicester City
He finished as the top performer in our Leicester vs Sheffield Wednesday player ratings, and Pierce Charles was even praised by Marti Cifuentes after the game, so it’s no surprise we’re ready to call him the Owls’ most valuable player.
And no, we’re not just talking about money, though Wednesday reported that Charles is now worth £8 million.
Charles’ performance against Leicester was more than just a transfer value; he demonstrated that he has everything it takes to step up and be a major component in Sheffield Wednesday’s team during what will undoubtedly be a difficult season.
He often stood between the Leicester City players and the Owls’ goal, making multiple saves, including one stunning stop to deny Patson Daka. Charles, unsurprisingly, won the player of the match award on SofaScore, with an 8.6 rating after making an incredible 11 saves.
| Statistics | Pierce Charles vs Leicester City |
| Saves | 11 |
| Saves inside box | 5 |
| Run outs | 1 |
| Long passes completed | 11 |
| Rating | 8.6 |
Data via SofaScore
According to the statistics, he saved 0.28 goals while also making five saves in the box and performing one successful run out.
He also completed 11 successful long passes and 18 passes in total. But his success on the day was more than simply numbers; he demonstrated resilience, daring, and tenacity, all of which the Owls will need this season.
Sheffield Wednesday can stay up, if they keep Pierce Charles
While Barry Bannan’s new contract is significant for Sheffield Wednesday because it provides them with a leader to get them through the season, Pierce Charles is more likely to offer them a fighting chance of staying in the division.
There is every reason to expect that the Owls defense will be tested throughout the season, with Charles serving as Henrik Pedersen’s final line of defense. To be fair, they could do a lot worse than rely on the young goalkeeper.
He played second fiddle to James Beadle for much of the season, but in the last games of 2024/25, Charles showed that he was ready to take the number one shirt.
After just one game this season, and with his brother Shea Charles watching, Pierce demonstrated that no one else is worthy of stealing that shirt anymore.
Nobody expects Wednesday to last, but if a miracle can be found anywhere, it will be in the hands of the young Northern Irishman.
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