Sheffield Wednesday academy manager admits it was a challenge to keep George Hirst

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A string of England’s top clubs have been linked with moves for the Sheffield Wednesday teenager.

Dean Ramsdale has admitted to the Sheffield Star that it was a challenge to keep George Hirst at Sheffield Wednesday.

Hirst has been in fine form this season, scoring goals on a regular basis for both the Owls’ development teams as well as the England Under-18s, prompting Ramsdale, the club’s academy boss, to describe him as potentially the best he has ever worked with.

And after a trio of Premier League clubs – along with Wednesday’s Championship rivals Leeds United and Newcastle United – were linked with the 17-year-old before he signed his first professional contract in March this year, it is clear the cat is already out the bag.

“It was a challenge to keep George. The big clubs were looking,” Ramsdale admitted. “We had a technical board meeting where all the boys get mentioned as far as contracts are concerned. We wanted to make sure we got George sorted out as soon as we could as the boy, is potentially, a talent.

“When you are in the England set-up, you are clearly doing something right. He has been keeping boys out of the England set-up who play for Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham, Manchester City and Manchester United. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work out he’s a good player.”

Wednesday have trodden carefully with Hirst so far, handing him his one and only senior appearance in August’s EFL Cup defeat to Cambridge United.

The weight of his father’s name – David Hirst – has perhaps played a part in that, and certainly has not helped to calm the expectation surrounding the local product.

David Hirst scores against Arsenal in the 1993 FA Cup final

However, Hirst’s response when it was put to him that his old man’s reputation is potentially problematic, should serve as encouragement for the Owls faithful.

“To be fair to George, his answer [to the above] was pretty good,” Ramsdale added: “He said ‘it’s the club that I love and want to play for and the club where my dad was a legend at, but I want to play for Sheffield Wednesday.”