Sheffield Wednesday: Ernie Weaver hailed as a "serious player" as 7-figure transfer claim touted | OneFootball

Ernie Weaver made his first senior league appearance at the weekend, helping to keep a clean sheet for Sheffield Wednesday's win at Portsmouth.

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 earned their first win of the Championship season this past weekend courtesy of a 2-0 victory away to Portsmouth, with 19-year-old Ernie Weaver starring in his senior league debut at the heart of defence.

It has been a turbulent summer at Hillsborough this year, with off-field issues surrounding their ownership dominating the headlines and ultimately affecting their performances on the pitch.

Having let 13 players leave the club in the window, collecting a fee for just two of them (£2.2 million for Rangers-bound Djeidi Gassama and an undisclosed fee from Samsunspor for Anthony Musaba), the Owls brought in just two new signings with Ethan Horvath and Harry Amass both joining on loan from Cardiff City and Manchester United, respectively.

With former manager Danny Rohl departing, a transfer embargo, unpaid wages for players and staff, having one of their stands briefly closed, and numerous injuries due to a mismanaged pre-season, it's fair to suggest Wednesday have had a few hurdles to jump.

Despite this, a win on Saturday at Portsmouth has seen them climb up to four points and created a gap between them and city rivals Sheffield United, who are yet to pick up a point in six games.

Starring in defence was 19-year-old Weaver, who, on top of making his first senior start in a league match, kept a clean sheet and looked assured, giving Owls fans something to be optimistic about.

Speaking to Football League World, Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit Patrick McKenna has shared his opinion on whether Weaver could be a player which bankrolls the club further down the line.

Patrick told FLW: "In regards to Ernie Weaver, he's come in this season and been very impressive in the centre of defence. It's not been easy circumstances for him and a few of the other young players, having to come in like this at very short notice.

"In his first few games in the League Cup, there weren't many senior players around him to help guide him, but it certainly didn't stop him. He looked very assured in the two-legged cup games, and with that, he certainly earned his starting role yesterday.

"Yet again, Ernie just stood up and justified his selection. It was a very good team performance yesterday, and it was very encouraging to see the young lads, like Ernie, to be a part of that.

"He's stepped in and was a part of a very disciplined, controlled defensive performance, and he's certainly not afraid to get stuck in.

"Of course, don't get carried away, that would be the worst thing you could do for the player to put too much hype on him, but I think he has come in and shown that he is not feared by Championship football and by playing against more senior players.

"That is the sort of player we need to keep hold of. [There] cannot be a case where [Dejphon] Chansiri starts to flog him off to keep his closet in the club.

"If Chansiri can go and we can develop these players like a normal club should, then yes, in a few years' time if his progression continues like this, then he goes for seven figures.

"Guys like Ernie could be the future for us, [they are] the shining lights in a very dark season, I think he will get more starts this season and that he will further progress, and by the end of the season we will have a serious player on our hands."

Ernie Weaver could cement himself as a part of Sheffield Wednesday's defence

Following a win in his maiden Championship start, Weaver has certainly given manager Henrik Pedersen a lot to consider ahead of the next few games.

The English teenager hadn't featured in any first-team match prior to this season, but now has six senior appearances to his name, starting all three of Wednesday's matches in the League Cup and being introduced as a substitute in two separate Championship matches prior to his start at Portsmouth.

Alongside Max Lowe and Dominic Iorfa, Weaver didn't look out of place, which is a testament to his maturity and ability to adapt to what has been an unforgiving scenario.