- Ex-Real Madrid ace debuted for Owls on Saturday
- Drenthe showed flashes of skill in cameo role
- Owls boss says that is just the start
Stuart Gray assessed the cameo appearance of Royston Drenthe against Bolton and insisted the new recruit will only get better.
Drenthe made his debut for the Owls at The Macron Stadium, coming on from the bench for the last half-hour over the Pennines.
The former Real Madrid ace certainly showed shades of his undoubted ability and Gray said that is only the start.
He said: “Royston is a very talented boy, there is no doubt about that.
“He saw plenty of the ball, he looked sure and confident but let’s not forget, he is not match fit and that will take a bit of time.
“I just thought he could get at their left back and he certainly gave him something to think about.”
Drenthe offered a new attacking dimension for the Owls, who dominated the Trotters clash from the first whistle.
And Gray said the tricky winger could have hit a hat-trick on another day with more game time under the belt:
“He got into some great positions and with the chances he had, he could have had three goals.
“He needs to get a feel for being back out there on the pitch and that will come.
“I know the boy is capable because the kind of chance he had right at the end has been landing in the back of the net in training.
“He just needed to roll it in the corner but, of course, stroking one in the net in training is completely different to stroking one in the net in the last minute of a game in the Championship.
“It will come, he’s an exciting player and one who will get our fans out of their seats.”