Sheffield Wednesday can’t afford to make the same mistakes with Will Grainger
There was a moment during Will Grainger’s Sheffield Wednesday cameo against Middlesbrough where he left a man twice his age on his backside.
Grainger’s name isn’t new to Wednesdayites, they’ve been hearing it for a couple of years now following his exploits at U15 level alongside now Manchester City striker, Caelen-Kole Cadamarteri. This season, though, he’s taken the step up into the first team – despite being just 17.
Most fans know of his goalscoring and creating exploits at youth level… He’s got 32 goals and assists for club and country so far this season, though he’s still waiting for his first in the professional game. If it wasn’t for a good save from Sol Brynn on Wednesday night, that would’ve changed.
But it was his challenge on Luke Ayling, who was on the brink of signing his first pro deal at Arsenal when Grainger was born, that stood out for many. It showed a spirit, a tenacity, similar to his performance against Leeds United in the Carabao Cup earlier in the season when he went toe-to-toe with Sean Longstaff.
The talented teen is seen as somebody who is in a similar mould to Josh Windass. The number 10 position, whether centrally or more to either side, is the one earmarked for him going forward – and it’s where he ended up at the Riverside after replacing Jarvis Thornton.
Throwing down the gauntlet…
His ability is there to see, but his attitude has also stood out. The Wednesday Word understands that the gauntlet was thrown down to the Wales youth international back in November after a heavy defeat to Sheffield United’s U18s. Still 16 at the time, but with growing hype, Wednesday’s coaches – and Henrik Pedersen – wanted to see more from him.
Since then he’s become a regular feature in first team training, donned the captain’s armband at U21 level, and shown glimpses of the fact that he’s ready to be a more utilised part of the senior side at Hillsborough.
A big problem, however, is that he still doesn’t have a professional contract. The ongoing takeover situation at S6, and the uncertainty that surrounds it, has meant that Grainger is still on a scholarship at Middlewood Road, and he could be snapped up by another team at any point. He wants to stay at Wednesday, TWW is led to believe, but without a contract anything can happen.
We’ve seen the Owls mismanage youngsters far too often over the years. They’ve got the pathway wrong, or the former chairman made it difficult for reasonable terms to be agreed. Players have languished in the U21s when they should’ve been out on loan, or getting more minutes at senior level.
The hope is that new owners, and almost certainly new structures, at the club will fix that, and sorting out a deal for Grainger should be among their top priorities
The hope is that new owners, and almost certainly new structures, at the club will fix that, and sorting out a deal for Grainger should be among their top priorities when it comes to the football side of things when – or if – this takeover happens.
Some teenagers would’ve wilted after a stern talking to from the first team manager, Grainger has flourished. Now he deserves to be rewarded with a proper deal, and a road map of how his boyhood club plans to make sure he does what many others haven’t - reach his potential.
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