Sheffield Wednesday's 'close contact' with Manchester City over Jaden Heskey explained by Henrik Pedersen
Sheffield Wednesday have recieved “very positive” feedback from Manchester City over their handling of loanee Jaden Heskey.
The 20-year-old made his senior debut for Manchester City in September but amid stiff competition for minutes in Pep Guardiola’s star-studded squad, a loan move was sanctioned in January.
Wednesday were trusted with his development and the attack-minded midfielder has made significant strides in a struggling team.
Jaden Heskey has developed swiftly under the tutelage of Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen.placeholder image
Jaden Heskey has developed swiftly under the tutelage of Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen. | Steve Ellis
Sheffield Wednesday’s contact with Manchester City
Pedersen said: “[We have received] very good, very positive [feedback]. We are in very close contact. We have a database together with Man City, so they can see all the training he's doing, all the analysis from the training.
“They can see all the game feedback we're giving him after each game so we can speak about his individual development week-to-week. There has to be close contact. They are really good in this way, Man City."
Jaden Heskey’s development
The contrast between the player Wednesday signed and the player Wednesday now have in their ranks is a stark one.
Although Heskey’s potential was evident from his first outing as an Owl, his growth in the second tier of English football has been swift.
Pedersen said: “He has developed a lot. I think he’s tactially so strong, together with his physical ability and technical ability.
Jaden Heskey has made 18 appearances since his loan move from Manchester City to Sheffield Wednesday.placeholder image
Jaden Heskey has made 18 appearances since his loan move from Manchester City to Sheffield Wednesday. | Steve Ellis
“The other thing, he is a strong number six because his running capacity is strong. His tactics, good as a six. He is starting to be much better on the ball to not only play sidewards and backwards, he starts to speed up the game, bypass many more opponents.
“When he plays the number 10 position, he has this verticality in his run, he has the power, and he’s a fantastic first-pressing player. He can run to space, but he can also receive in the pocket. His way to be a part of something, to see himself as part of the game, I think he’s strong.
“It is a big advantage he can play more positions and it’s a big strength as a young guy that he can change through the game from situation to situation, position to position.”