Alan Biggs: Sheffield United and the loan market

But if that player is selected regardless of his form and contribution, is there a point in that either?

Somewhere in between is where Sheffield United will have sat in their pursuit of the highly-prized Rhian Brewster.

For all the sweet talk from Chris Wilder to Jürgen Klopp, the one thing the Blades boss can’t and won’t do is guarantee the 20-year-old Liverpool forward a place.

That would cut across the entire ethos of a Blades’ squad in which equality, fairness and togetherness are right at the core.

The fact talks have stretched this long, with hopeful noises still being made, suggests Klopp would not expect such an undertaking from his opposite number.

More to the point, it would be entirely unproductive. If a practical learning experience for Brewster is to have any value then he has to be judged on merit.

Klopp already knows Wilder won’t compromise on this and rightly so.

Remember Ben Woodburn, loaned amid much fanfare from Klopp’s Liverpool in 2018? The then 18-year-old made just eight appearances and his season’s loan was cut short the following January.

Woodburn, Liverpool’s youngest ever first team selection, appears yet to have re-emerged from a chastening experience but, at 20, time is still on his side and a brutal experience could be put to good use.

Besides, in the case of Brewster, United’s other strikers have to know they are competing with him and not for a place alongside.

This is a cautionary tale in that another top flight forward loaned to Bramall Lane a couple of years ago also made only eight appearances and flopped. Former Manchester United prospect James Wilson is now at Salford City.

But that is to point out the unpredictabilities, not to say that Brewster can’t succeed and in a big way.

His successful 10-goal loan at Swansea last season qualifies him far above the other two.

Brewster’s speed, strength and finishing ability should be assets to United. He would also be a spur to the similarly talented Lys Mousset, who is currently sidelined after surgery.

Having a Brewster type vying with a fit Mousset is very much the final piece in this season’s puzzle.

But the delivery has to be much better than in Monday’s opening 2-0 defeat to Wolves in which, after a nightmare start, United showed that most of last season’s other qualities remain firmly in place.

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