Harry Gray endured a difficult season on loan at Rotherham United as the Millers suffered relegation from League One.
Even so, the 17-year-old was one of the few positives in an otherwise disappointing campaign, producing enough promising displays to reinforce Leeds United’s belief that he is among the club’s brightest young talents.
Daniel Farke felt Gray would benefit more from another year of regular senior football than spending the season on the fringes of Leeds’ Premier League squad.
Interest arrived from several Championship and League One clubs, but Leeds ultimately decided Sheffield Wednesday was the best destination for the teenager, completing the loan move earlier this month.
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Harry Gray opens up on joining Sheffield Wednesday
Leeds wanted him to play for a League One club with real promotion ambition and believe playing at Hillsborough should prepare him for life at Elland Road.
The young forward has insisted that he is enjoying the more competitive environment at Sheffield Wednesday, and the pressure that comes along with it.
He is also looking forward to playing week-in, week-out at Hillsborough and dealing with the expectations of a raucous crowd.
“I enjoy it”, Gray told the BBC when asked how life is at Sheffield Wednesday.
“It’s so much better and more competitive, and something on the line every game. It’s what I enjoy, a bit of pressure.
“You’re playing for people that work every week to come and watch you play.
“You’ve got to excite them and then ultimately that gives you some joy. But however many fans are watching, they’re getting that (joy) as well.”
Leeds still believe his future is at Elland Road, but the forward is not looking too far ahead at the moment. He just wants to focus on earning promotion with Sheffield Wednesday this season.
“Who knows what could happen… a year’s a long time in football”, Gray added when asked about his future at Leeds.
“All I care about now is getting promoted here.”
Leeds United made the right call to loan him out to Sheffield Wednesday
After an encouraging season in a struggling Rotherham United side, Harry Gray was widely expected to step up to the Championship for his next loan move.
Interest from Sheffield United only strengthened that expectation, but the Leeds United youngster is instead set to spend another season in League One.
Leeds felt it was more important to find a club with genuine promotion ambitions and a positive, attacking style of play, believing that environment would give Gray the best platform to continue his development.
There is also a far greater chance of regular first-team football. At a promotion-chasing Championship club like Sheffield United, where Chris Wilder will be under pressure to deliver an immediate return to the Premier League, opportunities for a teenage striker could have been far harder to come by.
