Video: Carvalhal can rest easy as Wildsmith grasps Owls chance in style

The teenager, who has been a professional on the Hillsborough books for the last two years, made his debut in Tuesday night’s 4-1 Capital One Cup victory over Mansfield Town.

Having played a couple of games on loan with Barnsley at the end of last season, and similarly with Alfreton Town the campaign before, it was a surreal moment for someone who was born and bred in the Steel City.

“It was brilliant,” he admitted. “It’s something you dream about as a kid and being a Sheffield Wednesday supporter, too, playing at Hillsborough in my first game for the club, running out four-one winners just topped it all off brilliantly.

“I loved every minute of it and it does make it extra special being a fan.

“All my family were here, I had loads of friends in the crowd and being a Sheffield lad only makes it better for the club knowing that one of their own is playing for the team and wants it as much as that.”

Wildsmith certainly did not look out of place; the 19-year-old made one stunning first-half save to keep out Chris Beardsley’s header and produced another couple of impressive stops in the second half as well. There was little he could do to prevent League Two Mansfield’s solitary goal.

Confident and assured, it was easy to understand why Owls head coach Carlos Carvalhal said afterwards he “slept very well” the night before Wildsmith’s bow.

“There were bits I think I could improve on – a sloppy kick – but other than that it went quite well and, as debuts go, I will remember every minute,” continued Wildsmith. “(Goalkeeping coach) Andy Rhodes came up to me the other day to say I’d be in for the cup, they were leaving Westy (Keiren Westwood) out and it’s my turn.

“Hopefully, I’ve proved a point. Since he’s been here, the gaffer (Carvalhal) has been talking to me, and put faith in me in pre-season when I came on at St Mirren and again against Mansfield. Hopefully, I’ve repaid him.

“He told me to play my own game, enjoy it and basically he put no pressure on me and I think that helped me a lot.

“The atmosphere was great.Playing Under-21s is not the same as being at this stadium – you can’t really hear anything or listen to anyone. I loved it and just want more now.”

Wildsmith concedes he will probably have to go elsewhere to get regular football with Westwood, the experienced Republic of Ireland keeper, sure to be recalled for Saturday’s Championship trip to Ipswich and Wales international Lewis Price now on their rota, too.

“My aim now is to get as much game-time as possible this season, hopefully first-team football whether it’s here or somewhere else on loan and then push on to the next step,” said Wildsmith. “Lewis is out at the moment but will probably be back soon.

“If he comes in and is on the bench and Westy’s playing, hopefully I’ll get that chance to go out and get first-team football again, playing in front of a crowd like this and fight for three points.

“That’s the difference between this and the 21s; that is more development and they aren’t too fussed about the score whereas out there, there’s no prisoners. You win or you lose and you need to win.”