"He will make mistakes" - Pierce Charles, Sheffield Wednesday "caution" raised amid James Beadle news | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday's attention turns to homegrown talent Pierce Charles, who impressed in the final eight games of the 2024/25 season

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Sheffield Wednesday are unlikely to bring Brighton goalkeeper James Beadle back for a third loan stint this summer, according to The Star.

With the 20-year-old set to explore new opportunities elsewhere, attention turns to homegrown talent Pierce Charles, who impressed in the final eight games of the 2024/25 season after displacing Beadle in the starting lineup.

Having already earned international recognition with Northern Ireland, making his debut in October 2024, Charles brings more than just reflexes to the position.

His distribution skills, honed during his early development in Manchester City's academy, are particularly noteworthy, with Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill highlighting how Charles can be "like an extra player for the team" with his ability on the ball.

Pierce Charles could finally be the prized asset Sheffield Wednesday have longed for

Pierce Charles has shown considerable promise in his breakthrough performances for the Owls. The young goalkeeper made 16 appearances across all competitions during the 2024/25 season, keeping multiple clean sheets and demonstrating his shot-stopping abilities.

His standout moment came against Middlesbrough, where he denied Tommy Conway from the penalty spot and made an excellent save on the rebound before later preserving a 2-1 win with a crucial stop from Delano Burgzorg's close-range attempt.

We spoke to our resident Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit, Patrick McKenna, who believes Charles could be the club's next big asset but warns against placing too much pressure on the young Northern Ireland international goalkeeper.

McKenna said, "His distribution is outstanding, it’s really a key part of his game and it is something that a goalkeeper does need. I was especially pleased for him that he managed to bounce back from his mistake against Stoke, and we continue to get him experience.

"He is our next big asset and we need to make sure that we develop him next season, but there still needs to be a bit of caution in regards to this. Next season I envisage quite a tough season for us, and I could see us at the bottom end of the table, so I don’t think it’ll be wise to solely rely on a 19-year-old for this."

"Last season, Beadle and Charles were both let down by our defence and there was a lot of opportunities for the opposition to get shots in from easy positions. But yes, I think something that Wednesday haven’t managed to do over the past 20 years or so, is to develop a young player and sell them on for profit, so yes Shea Charles is our chance to do this but lets remember to do this right.

"He will make mistakes, as a fanbase we have our role to be very encouraging towards him, don’t in any way start to give him a hard time or grumble when mistakes are made. As a club lets develop him, as a fanbase, let's get behind him, but lets do it right and we certainly could have a real asset on our hands."

As Patrick noted, Charles did experience some challenging moments, including that notable error against Stoke City in April when his goal kick cannoned off Ben Wilmot and into the net. His ability to recover from such setbacks demonstrates mental fortitude that will be essential for his continued development.

No return for James Beadles suggests Pierce Charles is the new number one for Sheffield Wednesday

With James Beadle returning to Brighton and expected to pursue another loan opportunity elsewhere, Sheffield Wednesday appear to be at a pivotal moment in their goalkeeping plans.

The Owls appear to be entering a period of significant squad transition, with up to 15 players potentially departing at the conclusion of the current campaign. This could provide an opportunity for the club to reshape their approach to player development, with Charles potentially becoming a blueprint for future academy success.

Patrick's suggestion of bringing in an experienced goalkeeper to mentor Charles aligns with sound development principles. While the Northern Ireland international has demonstrated his capabilities, balancing first-team exposure with appropriate support will be crucial, especially if Wednesday face a challenging season as Patrick anticipates.

As Wednesday look ahead to the 2025/26 campaign, the management of Charles' development could prove crucial not only for their immediate competitive prospects but also as a potential profit should he fulfill his evident potential. The next 12 months could be decisive in determining whether the club finally produces the homegrown asset Patrick says they've been missing for two decades.