Exclusive:'I'm certain' - Gary McAllister's verdict on Harry Gray's loan move from Leeds United to Sheffield Wednesday
Gary McAllister has delivered his verdict on Leeds United prodigy Harry Gray’s loan move to Sheffield Wednesday
Leeds United legend Gary McAllister is “certain” Sheffield Wednesday fans will take to loanee Harry Gray.
The 17-year-old forward is arguably the most exciting young talent in the Leeds ranks and ended last season on loan at Rotherham United.
He showed plenty of promise in a struggling Millers side and is now back in League One, this time with promotion hopefuls Wednesday.
Gray is the son of former Leeds forward Andy, the grandson of ex-Whites defender Frank and great-nephew of the legendary Eddie. His older brother, Archie, was lured from Leeds by Tottenham Hotspur in 2024.
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Gary McAllister on Harry Gray’s Sheffield Wednesday loan move
McAllister knows Gray and his family well - and believes the youngster’s Hillsborough experience will be a mutually beneficial one.
He told The Yorkshire Post: “The Gray family is remarkable. I know them very well. I know all of them, Archie and Harry, [from] when they were just small kids running around, and now they’ve grown up into men.
“Archie’s at Spurs, and obviously Harry was at Rotherham last year. He’s a goalscorer, but I don’t think he got on the scoresheet as much as he wanted to down there. But he’s somebody who wants to score goals. I remember seeing him as a kid and he just scored for fun.
”It’s great experience to go out on loan, especially at a club like Sheffield Wednesday. Just the experience of playing against men, and against men who are trying to kick him, he’ll learn so much.
“Wednesday is a big club and Hillsborough is a great place to play football. I just hope they’re back on their way because what happened there was a bit of a mess. Wednesday have a good fanbase and I’m certain they’ll take to Harry.”
Harry Gray’s EFL education
Gray is a forward by trade but was regularly deployed out wide during his loan spell at Rotherham. While he adjusts to the physical demands of the EFL, he may find himself on the flanks again this season.
Last month, in an interview with BBC Radio Sheffield, the England youth international said: “Personally, in myself, I want to be a striker. That’s - not unrealistic - but it’s a lot at 17, a lone striker in League One, it’s not going to happen every week.
“But also, I love playing in attacking positions, in the 10 or off the left where I can cut in or go down the line. That’s where I’d say the manager here’s said [he sees me], as a 10 or a left-winger, but also up front when you’re needed.”