SWFC manager comments on strikers future after loan move…
Sheffield Wednesday manager comments on striker’s future
Charlie McNeill still has a future at Sheffield Wednesday despite being loaned out.
The forward, 22, has joined League Two Crewe on loan for the season. The former Manchester United and Manchester City youngster came off the bench for his new club on Saturday for the last 25 minutes of a 1-0 victory at Crawley Town, which featured three red cards and a 95th minute winner.
McNeill, who has scored six goals in 48 appearances since signing for The Owls two years ago, featured this summer in pre-season but was left out of the Carabao Cup win against Bolton and was then loaned to Crewe at the end of last week.
Wednesday are short of wide and forward options but hope to add to their squad in these areas before the transfer window closes on September 1. Should McNeill impress, The Owls can recall him and bring him back to Hillsborough.
Owls manager Henrik Pedersen told The Star: “Charlie has to go there with full power now into Christmas, and then we’ll evaluate what’s happened here. So I really hope he’ll get a good loan, and then let’s see what what happened from January. “
When asked if McNeill still has a future at the club, Pedersen replied: “Yeah, why not? Charlie, he’s going there to grow. He’s going there to grow for the defensive thing, for him as a person, him as a player. He is going to a very good club, it is a good option for him, and then we evaluate in January.”
Speaking previously about the decision to loan him out, Owls sporting director, Simon Wilson, added: “This is a loan that works well for all parties. Charlie is ready for more playing time and it will enable us to monitor him in this environment – and Crewe are acquiring a player with an elite goalscoring record in youth football, who is hungry for this opportunity.
“They have an excellent record of partnering with clubs on loan players and have been really consistent in recent years, performing at the top end of the league. It is a season-long loan but we will all review the situation in January and take it from there.”
