Michael Smith's words of praise for Sheffield Wednesday's teenage striker Bailey Cadamarteri - and why he has every chance of forging a strong career

That’s the verdict of Sheffield Wednesday team-mate Michael Smith with the teenage striker’s rise having been one of the many endearing stories of the Danny Rohl revolution, which culminated in the Owls completing their joyous ‘Great Escape’ mission last Saturday.

Handed his debut by Rohl in November, Cadamarteri - son of former Huddersfield Town, Bradford City and Sheffield United forward Danny - has struck five times in 25 appearances in a breakthrough 2023-24.

And Smith believes that with good people behind him, he has every chance to continue his rise in the blue and white.

He said: “I’ve watched him walking into the ground and he’s not built like a 17 or 18-year-old and he’s filled out an awful lot and he has got a real chance in that sense as well.

"He can look after himself and he’s got ability and that knack of being in the right place at the right time, which - as everyone says - is uncoachable. You have either got it or you haven’t.

"He’s done really well and seems like a really level-headed lad and you can see he’s got the experience of his family to lean on as well as those in the dressing room. I am pretty sure he will have a very good career.”

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Smith can recall the time when he was at the start of his career and trying to make his way in first-team football like Cadamarteri.

While the pair may be rivals for a starting spot, it has not stopped the north-easterner - a senior figure in the Owls dressing room - in passing on some invaluable tips and tricks of the trade to his younger colleagues.

It’s something he enjoys.

Smith added: “I try and speak to Bailey, especially before he is about to go out on the pitch when he has been starting.

"It’s just (giving) little nuggets of experience about certain centre-halves I have played against over the years - who he was coming up against.

"It was just about what to expect and things he could try and do to win a free-kick or run off the back of him.”