'So energetic' - Why Harrogate Town moved to bring in ex-Sheffield Wednesday midfielder

Connor Kirby made his Sheffield Wednesday debut in April 2018. Picture: Steve Ellis

The National League play-off winners moved to strengthen their midfield by bringing in Connor Kirby following the 21-year-old's release from Sheffield Wednesday.

And Town manager Simon Weaver is certain that the ex-Owl will be a good fit at Wetherby Road.

"He's exactly the type of player that we like here," the Harrogate boss said.

Connor Kirby spent 2019/20 on loan with Macclesfield in League Two. Picture: Getty Images

"Connor has got loads of energy. He's so energetic, just all -out legs, he'll give us so much in the midfield, winning those first and second balls.

"He has got good pedigree. He played four times for Wednesday's first team and did very well on loan at Macclesfield last season.

"He'll back up the two [Josh Falkingham and Lloyd Kerry] who have done so well for us in the centre of the park very nicely.

"He has already shown he can do it in League Two and he’ll attack it with confidence."

Having made his Wednesday debut during a Championship clash with Reading in April 2018, Kirby went on to play once more in the league and twice in the League Cup the following season.

The Owls academy graduate did however find himself frozen out of the first-team picture at Hillsborough following the departure of boss Jos Luhukay, and spent 2019/20 on loan with Macclesfield.

He featured 39 times for the Silkmen and was named as runner-up in their player of the year awards.

Having acquitted himself so well in League Two, it is unlikely that Kirby would have agreed to join Town had they failed to secure promotion from the fifth tier when they beat Notts County at Wembley last week, but they did, and Weaver is thrilled to have got his man.

"Once we got promoted it made everything so much easier," he added.

"We've liked Connor for a while and had made contact, but obviously his agent wanted to find him an EFL club for next season.

"He played nearly 40 times for Macclesfield in League Two so of course he wanted to stay at that level, I'm just pleased that we are able to offer him the chance to do that with us."