The 10 Sheffield United players out on loan - where are they, will they be recalled and where do their futures lie?
After the impressive work he has done with Sheffield United’s U23 side in recent times, it was somewhat inevitable that talk would turn to which Bramall Lane babes will be promoted to the senior squad when the former Barnsley and Leeds boss Paul Heckingbottom was promoted to first-team manager last month.
As part of the strategic vision United’s hierarchy are convinced is the future, Heckingbottom will be expected to lean heavily on the Blades’ youth academy in his new role as ‘football manager’.
United have a number of youngsters out on loan at clubs further down the football pyramid, with Heckingbottom admitting that their temporary agreements will be looked at in January before a decision is taken on whether to recall them.
So, we took a look at 10 Blades players currently out on loan, assessing their immediate first-team prospects at Bramall Lane and whether their careers may be best served by being recalled or kept on temporary placements...
United’s youngest-ever Premier League player, Hackford scored on his debut for Alfreton last weekend and doesn’t turn 18 until March. Has plenty of time to develop into the striker that United hope can play for the first team for years to come Photo: Simon Bellis
Another Blades history-maker, Jebbison is playing regular League One football at 18 years of age and will be gaining invaluable experience under the guidance of boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink too. There has been talk of him returning in January, but United surely have to move out two of their six senior strikers to make it worthwhile? Photo: Simon Bellis
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