Brentford v Sheffield Wednesday: Big jump from Under-23s to Championship says Owls’ Neil Thompson
As you might expect from someone who has stepped up from Under-23 coach to first-team caretaker-manager, Neil Thompson has given some of Sheffield Wednesday’s youngsters a chance to show what they can do, but he has warned they have a long way to go before they have made it.
One of them, 19-year-old midfielder Liam Shaw, is suspended for tonight’s game at Brentford following Saturday’s red card against Birmingham City. Osaze Urhoghide, a 20-year-old centre-back, was on the bench but having featured in six of the previous seven matches will hope to start.
“I’ve been quite tough with them because I just know when they make that step up into the first-team environment – not the games, but training – it’s a massive step up,” said Thompson.
“It’s always nice to see a young player come in and do well but it’s not about having two decent games, it’s five, 10, then 15 games so there’s trust both ways when they go on the pitch. Some of them take to it straight away but it is a massive, massive gap going into a Championship game.
“When any young player makes their debut, after 20 minutes his tongue’s hanging out and his lungs are heaving. It’s also the mental side.”
Joey Pelupessy, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Izzy Brown are options to replace Shaw.
Last six games: Brentford LLLWWW; Sheffield Wednesday LLWWWD
Referee: J Simpson (Lancashire)
Last time: Brentford 5 Sheffield Wednesday 0, March 7, 2020, Championship.
Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click HERE to subscribe.