- Plenty of potential below first team level
- Gray highlights Mani Dieseruvwe's recent form
- Promising youngster Franck Betra out with a knee injury
Owls boss Stuart Gray believes there is plenty of potential below first team level at Wednesday.
Mani Dieseruvwe continued his impressive run in front of goal for the Under-21s this week, while Gray has also seen promise in the lower age groups.
The likes of Liam Palmer and Caolan Lavery are shining examples of what can be achieved at Wednesday and Gray is urging the youngsters to get their heads down and give this opportunity everything they have.
18-year-old Franck Betra is another academy product making positive strides towards the first team, though a knee injury has halted the striker, who is set for a prolonged period on the sidelines.
The head coach said: “Unfortunately we’ve had Franck Betra who has had an operation on his knee.
“Franck looked head and shoulders above at his age group this time last season, he was progressing and training with the first team.
“He got in front of Mani and whether that has woken Mani up - maybe it has - because suddenly now, he is showing the reasons why we kept him on at this football club and gave him a 12-month contract.
“It’s Under-21 football but the most important thing is that he is scoring goals.
“It doesn’t matter at what level, whether it’s Under-18s or Under-21s – the most important thing is he has a good habit of hitting the back of the net.
“I watched the Youth Cup game this week as we faced a very strong Stoke side. There are two or three first years who I thought have potential to really kick on.
“One thing they do know, if they are good enough they will get an opportunity at this football club.”