Emile Heskey drops Sheffield Wednesday transfer revelation | OneFootball

Jaden Heskey returned to Sheffield Wednesday for the 2026/27 campaign, following a successful loan spell last season

Former Leicester City, Liverpool and England international striker Emile Heskey has explained that the environment surrounding Sheffield Wednesday and the need to play regularly is why his son Jaden rejoined the Owls this summer.

The 20-year-old midfielder went out on loan for the first time in his career back in January to a Sheffield Wednesday side rooted to the bottom of the Championship and staring relegation in the face.

It was a far cry from his time in the Manchester City academy, where he'd progressed through the age groups and captained the Under-21s side playing possession-based football, but he showed glimpses of quality in a struggling second-tier side.

Now he's back at Hillsborough for the whole season, coming in following the unfortunate season-ending injury to Tyler Onyango to add some much-needed depth in the middle of Henrik Pedersen's side.

Emile Heskey explains the reasoning behind Jaden Heskey's return to Sheffield Wednesday

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Emile Heskey is one of the more recognisable strikers in the English game, making over 500 Premier League appearances and representing England 62 times during the golden generation in the early 2000s.

The 48-year-old admitted that, despite the buoyant atmosphere around the club currently, the fanbase at Hillsborough gave Heskey a great introduction to senior football, one that helped mature him as a young player.

"It was good last year as well, to be honest," Heskey said, per the Sheffield Star. "There were tough times, but the fans got behind them regardless of what was going on at the club. The fans were amazing.

“For him, going into that environment meant he had to work very hard. It’s different from playing Under-18s or Under-21s, where you might have 90 per cent of the possession. You’ve got to run around, tackle, keep the ball and win your headers. It was really good for him.

"It was a bit of a baptism of fire, but he understands first-team football now. It’s about winning and winning at all costs. He lost more games than he won, but he understands it."

After Heskey's promising first loan spell of his career, the 20-year-old wasn't short of options as to where to go next, but despite numerous suitors, Emile stated that Jaden chose a return to Wednesday himself.

“He had quite a few other ones (clubs interested), but he chose to go back to Sheffield Wednesday,” he continued. "He knows a lot of the lads. I think he was still in the bloody WhatsApp group! They were contacting him and talking to him.

"There’s also the simple fact that he needs to play football. He’s 21 in December. He needs to consistently play and understand what it means to be a footballer. With his agents, we discuss things, but ultimately it’s down to him and what he wants to do. The reality is that you’ve got to be playing games."

Emile Heskey outlines Jaden's goals for the upcoming campaign

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New Sheffield Wednesday owner David Storch has outlined his ambition to get back into the Championship by the end of next season, in turn following the trend which has bestowed upon the Owls the last three times they were in the third tier.

However, after four wins in five to open the new campaign, including a 7-2 win at home against Bromley and a 100% winning record on the road, perhaps an immediate return to the second tier isn't completely off the cards.

For Heskey, his Dad believes that regular game time is the main goal for this first full season away from Manchester City, and if he can play a part in battling for promotion, then having that experience will do him the world of good, too.

"As many minutes as possible and hopefully to win something," he said when asked about his son's goals for the campaign. "If they’ve got the opportunity to get promoted and be in that fight for promotion, hopefully he’ll be part of that fight as well.

"He’s experienced the pressures at the bottom. Now, hopefully, he’ll experience the pressures of being at the top, where you’re trying to keep picking up points and can’t afford to drop them."

Jaden Heskey will be battling for minutes with Championship-level players this season

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With Sheffield Wednesday's dire injury record and depleted squad last season, it was easy for Heskey to come in and play regularly. Indeed, barring his debut, the 20-year-old started every game he was available for during his first spell at Hillsborough.

Now, though, Heskey comes into a squad that is filled with quality in the middle of the park. He obviously adds to that, but there are the likes of club legend Barry Bannan and Billy Mitchell, who hasn't played below the Championship before in his career, ahead of him in the pivot roles.

There's also fellow young midfielder Jarvis Thornton, who partnered with Heskey at times last season, and Callum Slattery, who are able to play in those roles, too, so the Manchester City loanee will find himself in more of a battle to earn minutes.

A brilliant debut off the bench against Wycombe Wanderers earned him a start at Peterborough United on Saturday, but a sub-par performance saw him hooked before the hour mark for Mitchell, who performed well.

That's the ups and downs that come from being a young player, and both Dad and player will be hoping he can come out of this second loan spell with even more experience than he has.