Sheffield Wednesday faced a formidable challenge in their recent pre-season friendly against RB Salzburg. The Owls, who traveled to Germany for their second summer training camp before heading to Austria, encountered a dominant Salzburg side that secured a 4-0 victory.

Salzburg, who finished second in their domestic league last season and competed in the Champions League against teams like Inter Milan and Benfica, showcased the significant gap between the two clubs. Despite the lopsided scoreline, the match provided an opportunity for one player to stand out.

James Beadle, making his first appearance since rejoining Sheffield Wednesday on loan after a successful spell last season, delivered a notable performance. The goalkeeper played the first half before being replaced by trialist George Shelvey, but his 45 minutes on the field left a lasting impression.

Beadle earned a nine rating from The Star, who named him the Owls’ ‘man of the match.’ Journalist Alex Miller highlighted his performance, writing, “Made a string of excellent saves early on, two of particular quality at short range. A class apart on the day, saved the first half from being a different scoreline altogether, easily Wednesday’s man of the match.”

Holding onto Beadle could prove to be Sheffield Wednesday’s best move of the summer. While the club has made several strong signings to bolster their attack for the 2024/25 campaign, retaining Beadle’s services might be just as crucial. The 20-year-old goalkeeper had the second-highest clean sheet percentage of any keeper with more than two appearances in the Championship last season, securing eight clean sheets in 19 games for the Yorkshire club.

Beadle’s performance was described as “superb,” and if he can maintain this level after only a couple of seasons in senior football, fans can expect even greater improvement in the coming year.