Joshua Zirkzee could make his Manchester United debut in Friday’s Premier League opener with Fulham at Old Trafford.
The £35 million signing from Bologna would be hard pressed emulating the flying start made by a former Red Devil on his first appearance in new colours, however.
27 seconds, that is all it took for Charlie McNeill to open his account for Sheffield Wednesday. Lashing a ferocious finish off the underside of the bar in less time than it takes to boil a kettle.
Just nine minutes later, the former Manchester United youngster doubled his tally. A horrific mix-up in the Hull City backline left McNeill with a tap in, Sheffield Wednesday cruising into a comfortable lead during Wednesday’s EFL Cup first-round clash while giving The Tigers a mountain to climb in the process.
A prolific goalscorer at youth level – McNeill netted 29 times in 35 Premier League Under 18 matches – the time is now for the Droylsdon-born forward to prove that he can make the step up to the senior game.
And if this is a sign of things to come, the free-transfer deal that brought McNeill to Hillsborough could prove to be one of the best pieces of business in the Football League this summer.
Dream debut for Charlie McNeill after Manchester United exit
“I’ve seen a lot of good things. I saw videos of him before we took him and had a clear idea in my mind with what we could do with him,” Wednesday’s highly-rated head coach Danny Rohl tells the Sheffield Star after McNeill’s stunning debut performance.
“I was sure that he needed a little bit of training. But with my style of football, in the red zone and between the lines, I think this is exactly the profile (we needed).
“He was very clinical (against Hull) and I think this is a huge step. I spoke to him during the week that he often came into good situations when he is training but he was not always the killer in front of goal. Today he scored twice, which is good to see.
“Today was the first step, nothing more. It’s about being hard-working.”
McNeill spent four years at Man United, snapped up from bitter rivals Manchester City back in 2020.
He netted only three goals in 23 league appearances during loan spells at Newport County and Stevenage, though Rohl will be hoping that the penny has dropped with his 21st birthday only three weeks away.
‘Delighted’ with flying Sheffield Wednesday start
“I’m delighted,” McNeill told BBC Sheffield after announcing himself as a Wednesday player on Humberside. “Just to be starting and getting a run-out from the gaffer, I’m delighted.
“And obviously to get two goals as well is what dreams are made of.
“(Rohl) wants us to press high and that’s what we did literally from the first minute and we got that goal within 30 seconds, so it sets the tempo for the rest of the game. That’s what we wanted to do.
“All the lads have helped me settle in really well and I’ve really enjoyed it. I obviously know how the gaffer wants me to play and with my recent teams I’ve been at, we’ve played that way so I’m kind of used to it. It’s a little bit different, but I’m really enjoying it.
“He’s very detailed, he speaks to all us players and tells us what he wants us to do in different positions. He spoke to me before the game which really helped me and I knew my role and what I had to do. I think everyone did their roles really well tonight.”
Joe Hugill, another Man United academy graduate, is also looking to make his mark in the EFL this term.
The former Newcastle kid is taking in another loan spell, this time with Wigan Athletic.
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
