Sheffield Wednesday youngster Conor Grant has signed his first professional contract with the Championship side, the club has confirmed.

Despite the doom and gloom around Hillsborough at present, the former Shamrock Rovers midfielder, who moved to the north of England after a successful trial in 2016 has shown that the club has a promising future ahead of them.

Impressing in the U18s for Andy Holdsworth this season, he has had a hand in the young Owls sitting top of the league in their respective competition.

Wednesday have shown there is clear progression to the first team with academy products Matt Penney, Cameron Dawson and Jordan Thorniley all progressing into the Owls’ first-team.

After committing his future to the Championship club, Grant spoke to the club’s official media to express his delight.

“I’m delighted with it, it’s a dream true,” the 17-year-old revealed. "It’s an unbelievable feeling, you put in all the hard work when you’re young and then when you finally get the news about the contract you are over the moon.

“I’m really happy that the hard work has paid off.

“Young lads at Wednesday are getting opportunities in the first team, so I just want to keep working hard and see what happens.”

The verdict

With all the negativity swirling around Hillsborough at present, this is pretty positive news.

There has been an influx of young talent into the first team at Hillsborough in recent times, and the confirmation of Conor Grant’s first professional deal is a testament to the youth system at Sheffield Wednesday.

Despite the current plight of the first-team the club can find and produce talented young players who are being rewarded and can see a pathway into the first team.

There is no reason why Grant can’t be one of the next names to pop up on a Wednesday team sheet in the future.

He has the tools to do so and is in an environment that rewards success at youth level, there is every chance he could well have a bright future at Hillsborough.