JOHN Cofie, Sheffield United’s on-loan centre-forward, has told Sir Alex Ferguson he wants to remain at Bramall Lane until the end of the League One campaign, writes James Shield.
Cofie, whose season-long deal from Manchester United is set to be reviewed by Old Trafford officials next month, reaffirmed his commitment to Danny Wilson’s side ahead of tomorrow’s South Yorkshire derby at Doncaster Rovers.
Despite failing to command a regular starting role since joining United last summer, Cofie said: “I’m really happy here and I’m completely focused on trying to get this club up. Whatever Sheffield United achieve this term, I want to achieve it as well. My thoughts haven’t changed one bit from when I first came in.”
Cofie, aged 19, was selected in Wilson’s first choice 11 for Saturday’s meeting with rock bottom Hartlepool but his afternoon ended in disappointment when the visitors recorded a shock 3-2 success.
Wilson described a result which saw United slip to second in the table as a “sharp flick” before adding: “Sometimes everyone needs one of those.”
Echoing those sentiments, Cofie said: “I’d much rather have come off the bench and for us to have won the game than start and us not.
“It’s a reminder that we can’t expect everything to be easy peasy all the time but we’ll come back stronger.
“I just want to contribute in any way that I can and being here with people like Dave Kitson and Richard Cresswell is teaching me so much.
“We’ve had a little blip but it’s important not to panic because there’s some great talent in our dressing room and we’ll definitely bounce back.”
United, however, must attempt to do so without Harry Maguire, who is banned for the visit to the Keepmoat Stadium after collecting his fifth caution of the season.
Wilson, despite Tony McMahon’s return from suspension, will attempt to strengthen his squad during the forthcoming transfer window with talks aimed at recruiting Motherwell’s Jamie Murphy at an advanced stage.
The Star understands that Burnley and Hull City have also been monitoring the winger’s progress in recent weeks but United’s willingness to pay a fee, believed to be worth around £100,000, rather than wait until Murphy’s contract expires in six months time has thrust them to the front of the queue.
Lamenting the loss of Neill Collins and Shaun Miller to injury, Wilson said: “Of course we missed Neill and Shaun because they’ve been playing so well.”
Comments