'Wow, this is it' - Sheffield Wednesday talent Will Grainger opens...

When Grainger was called up to start against Leeds in the Carabao Cup at the age of 16, he became one of the Owls’

youngest players ever. Yisa Alao also made his debut in the team’s triumph over Bolton Wanderers at the same age.

Given the shabby state of his team, Henrik Pedersen hasn’t had much of an option but to deploy academy players

this season. However, the fact that he included guys as young as Grainger and Alao shows how much he believes in

the young players.

Grainger’s skill is well known; many people have heard about his achievements at the U18 level last season, where he

scored 29 goals and provided 29 assists. Now, he has the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities at the senior level.

He acknowledges that things are a little wild, but he also gave credit to the players around him for making the move

so simple. He also said that he would have taken over at Hillsborough if Leeds hadn’t been excluded by Ethan

Horvath.

He said on the club’s website, “It was a little surreal; you never really know when you’re going to be needed.” “I was

thinking, ‘Wow, this is it,’ when the call came on.

“But there was also a sense that I had to perform my duties because this was a crucial game when I took the field.

Although difficult, it was a useful brain exercise. Whether I’m training with my age group or the first team, I guess I

approach things in the same manner. The mindset must remain unchanged, and I handle things as I always would.

“The team have been really good with me and it’s natural when you’re called up to be with them, you’re going to be a

little shy. But they really take you in and make you one of their own.

“They talked to me a lot before and before the penalties when I was making my debut because I was willing to take

one. In an attempt to reassure me, they put their arm around me and told me to play for my age group in the same

way that I do.

“There is a really good mix of everything, but they have been great with me.” “Then in training, if I don’t particularly

understand a drill or something like that, they would be guiding me but sometimes they’ll let me navigate it on my

own.”

Sportupdates