Young Owls bring much-needed pride

Sheffield Wednesday pair Ernie Weaver and George Brown both made their first Championship starts against Portsmouth

There has not been a lot of joy for Sheffield Wednesday fans over the last few months. Yet the emergence of teenagers Ernie Weaver and George Brown will have no doubt raised a smile after the win at Portsmouth.

Both players were fantastic, did not look overawed by their first Championship starts and played key roles in the victory.

Let's get the most important thing out of the way first. As a proud Yorkshireman myself, it's exceptional that both players sound like they made 300 appearances for the club in the 1970s.

The old-school feel of their names matches perfectly with their style of play. Energy, physicality, effort, and no lack of skill. They are Yorkshire lads, in name and nature.

Weaver had a few good battles with Colby Bishop, a great test for your first senior league start. Brown took his goal brilliantly, showing real composure and a killer instinct with his finish.

Both players shone in Wednesday's Carabao Cup campaign.

I recall talking at length with former Owl Ross Wallace about Brown's potential after his showing against Premier League Leeds. He just has something - an 'it' factor. He's got the size, the athleticism.

For a player who admitted it was a "shock" to be given a chance to sign professional terms at Sheffield Wednesday, he looks like an individual long destined to get his chance at this level.

I spoke to him after the game and was really impressed. He sounded like someone taking everything in his stride.

I definitely wouldn't have been so level-headed after scoring in my first start in the Championship with family behind the goal watching on. He talked about dreaming of the moment, before quickly pivoting to wanting more experiences like this and the need to build on the win.

An old head on young shoulders, which you'd expect from a Yorkshireman called George (or Ernie).

Despite the win at the weekend, nobody is thinking this will be anything other than a season of struggle at Hillsborough.

There's nothing to suggest a takeover is likely any time soon (quite the opposite, actually). The monthly 'will everyone get paid?' question will rear its head again next week. A points deduction at some point is inevitable.

The performance of Wednesday's young players at the weekend, at least, will have provided a real sense of pride for many.

A day for the fans – who in the words of the impressive Brown, deserved that experience.