Sheffield Wednesday striker Charlie McNeill is starting to look like a ‘Championship player’ say his boss Henrik Pedersen.
Sheffield Wednesday lost 3-2 at home to Preston North End in their latest version Championship outing. McNeill scored twice for SWFC against the Lilywhites and also missed a penalty.
McNeill, 22, has made 17 appearances for the Owls this season, scoring two goals and one assist. That’s him under contract in Hillsborough until summer 2027.
Pedersen has expressed his opinion about the striker, according to a report from The star: “I think he is one of the young players who has developed a lot. When we saw him at the beginning of the season, there is a big difference between his highest and lowest level. Then he had a period out of the starting line-up and we worked a lot with him as a person, as a human being, to be more stable. It was a big test for him against Millwall to play as a number 10, where not only attacking but also a lot of defensive work is needed.”
“He was the man who ran the most kilometers, sprint meters and accelerations. And to then achieve such a performance again, because when you play a good match, expectations arise. But to play this match today with this expectation, it shows that I have grown a lot mentally and that he is starting to become a champion player.”
Sheffield Wednesday latest on Charlie McNeill
Sheffield Wednesday signed McNeill on a free transfer in July 2024 under former head coach Danny Rohl. SWFC brought him in to strengthen their attacking department.
He gives the Owls more competition and depth at the top end of the field. The attacker is still young and has the potential to improve later.
McNeill, a former England youth international, had to wait for opportunities during his first year in South Yorkshire. He played seven games last campaign and found the net twice.
He spent time at Manchester City as a youngster before moving to Manchester United. The Mancunian was a regular for the Red Devils at various youth levels.
McNeill made one appearance for the Premier League giants’ first team at the age of 19 in a Europa League match against Real Sociedad. He was also loaned out from Old Trafford to Newport County and Stevenage to gain some experience in the Football League and to boost his development.
Charlie McNeill Stats
What next for Sheffield Wednesday and Charlie McNeill?
Sheffield Wednesday’s McNeill should be in a confident mood after conceding a brace Preston North End were eliminated last time out, despite his missed penalty. SWFC hopes he can now find some momentum during the festive season.
The Owls have gained another six points, which is a big blow. They now look set for relegation to League One.
Pedersen’s men are in the drop zone together with Norwich City and Portsmouth. They are 27 points from safety behind Swansea City in 21st place.
Sheffield Wednesday are back in action this weekend as they look for their second win of the season. They won just once in Portsmouth in September.
The Owls face a trip to Ewood Park to play Blackburn Rovers in their first match of December. They play Watford at Vicarage Road next Tuesday before the home game against Derby County.
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