England goalkeeper coach Martin Thomas visited the Owls' Middlewood Road training ground today - essentially to rubberstamp the latest coaching qualification achieved by Billy Mercer - but also handed words of encouragement to Lee Grant.

The Wednesday shot-stopper has continued to go from strength to strength of late, showing consistently outstanding form that has not gone unnoticed in Soho Square.

Thomas - who forms a key part of the FA goalkeeping set-up led by Liverpool legend Ray Clemence - said: "Lee Grant is certainly in our system. He has vast experience at all the relevant age groups and has already played at under-21 level for England. He has the ability, he's a great professional and I'm sure he has the ambition."

Thomas is fully conversant with Grant's attributes between the sticks having followed his progress for the best part of a decade.

The England coach also acknowledges the 24-year-old's current form for the Owls, adding: "I've known Granty since he was 16 and I think it's fantastic the way things are going for him at the moment. He's in the form of his life and we just hope that he continues to progress and eventually moves into the full England squad. He's a terrific lad and a terrific goalkeeper."