The England youngster has been frozen out by Sheffield Wednesday this season.
George Hirst could yet salvage his career at Sheffield Wednesday, Owls boss Jos Luhukay has confirmed at a press conference on Thursday.
Hirst has found himself frozen out by Wednesday – who have excluded him from all matches at every level – after failing to sign a new contract at Hillsborough.
In a club statement published last December, Owls chairman Dejphon Chansiri appeared resigned to losing the 18-year-old – who is understood to have attracted interest from several Premier League and Championship clubs – when his existing deal expires at the end of this season.
But according to Luhukay, Hirst is training once more with Sheffield Wednesday’s first team and will play for the Under-23s on Friday – although the Dutchman would not comment on the player’s contract situation.
“He has trained with us this week and he plays tomorrow with our Under-23s. That is a positive situation,” said the Owls boss. “I don’t know how is the future but at this moment he is training and can also play for us.”
Luhukay added: “He’s a young player but not played for seven or eight months. He needs match games to come into his best level. I know he’s a very talented young footballer.”
Hirst, whose father David is the legendary ex-Owls striker, has been capped by various England teams up to and including the Under-20s, with whom he won the Toulon Tournament last year.
Since his appointment in January, Luhukay has handed debuts to a trio of Wednesday youngsters, Jordan Thorniley, Sean Clare and Frederik Nielsen, and opportunities to several others who had struggled for game time under his predecessor Carlos Carvalhal.
https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/sheffield-wednesday-george-hirst-set-to-play-for-the-owls-under-23s-against-leeds-united-tomorrow-1-9030292
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