Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore has hinted that David Agbontohoma could be sent out on loan this season. 

The 20-year-old joined the Owls from Southampton last summer and was handed his debut by Moore in the EFL Trophy in 2021/22 – starting in the 4-0 victory over Harrogate Town in September.

Wednesday confirmed earlier this week that Agbontohoma had extended his contract at the League One club and the young centre-back has outlined his hopes of more regular first team football at Hillsborough this season.

Speaking to Yorkshire Live, Moore revealed that the defender would get a chance to train with the senior squad but indicated that he could still be sent out on loan at some point this season.

He said: "We’ll have him in training and around the first team because in terms of where he’s at, he needs it. He needs to be up against the likes of Josh (Windass), Greggers (Lee Gregory) and Pato (Callum Paterson), because they’ll test him.

"We’ll look at him in terms of whether a loan would give him some frontline football where he could get half a season on loan, maybe get 20 or so games in, and that will put some power in him, help his understanding and help him grow."

Moore added: "We’re very much looking at David as a possible future centre back here at the club.

"But his development is key so he’ll come back in with us, and get up to speed. I’ll get him around the seniors, which will aid his development. We might keep him in the first half of the season and then send him out on loan, that might be for his development going forward.”

Though Chey Dunkley and Sam Hutchinson have left the club Moore has signed three new central defenders this summer – Akin Famewo, Ben Heneghan, and Michael Ihiekwe – while the likes of Dominic Iorfa and Liam Palmer both look to be ahead of Agbontohoma in the pecking order as well.

The Verdict

It appears Wednesday see the 20-year-old as one for the future and that means that a loan deal might be the best thing for him.

With three new arrivals bolstering Moore's options in central defence, opportunities look as though they could be hard to come by for Agbontohoma and you do feel as though a run of games at senior level could help him develop.

It remains to be seen whether it will be in the current window or in January but unless he makes a real impact in training, we can expect a move at some point this season.

If he is indeed an Owls centre-back of the future then some time away from Hillsborough will do him good.