Chris Wilder makes Ryan One promise as Sheffield United future comes into focus following Lincoln City success
Chris Wilder makes Ryan One promise as Sheffield United future comes into focus following Lincoln City success
Ryan One will “100 per cent” return to Sheffield United in the summer to compete for a first-team spot next season, with manager Chris Wilder tipping the striker for “a big future” after his promotion-winning experience at Lincoln City. The Scottish youth international helped the Imps win promotion to the Championship over the Easter weekend.
They will join the Blades in the second tier next term and could well come up against their former loan star, if he continues his improvement when he reports back to Bramall Lane in the summer. One has scored five goals for Lincoln since joining in January.
Wilder is looking to refresh his United squad ahead of next season and there could be a vacancy in the forward department, too, with uncertainty over Danny Ings’ future in South Yorkshire. He was not in the squad for Monday’s trip to Bristol City, leaving United without a striker on the bench, and is out of contract this summer.
One’s versatility, with the 19-year-old also able to play off the left, could also earn him a spot in United’s squad next season as they look to recover from a poor campaign this time around. “He's got a big future ahead of him,” Wilder said of One.
Chris Wilder makes Ryan One promise as Sheffield United future comes into focus following Lincoln City success
“He’s a number nine who can link it up, run down the sides and score. We sold Will Osula [last summer, to Newcastle United] for £10 million. I'm not putting too much on Ryan. But he's got a big future. And his future is with us.
“We're delighted that he's here for long term. We felt it was the right thing to do to get him out on loan. It’s been a great experience. The choice of club was always an important one. Because he had everybody in League One and League Two chasing him.
“We knew he would have to fight to get into the team. And he's had to fight. So he's not always been a regular. But he's played and he's been involved. From a physical point of view, playing for three points. From a mentality point of view, playing for three points.
“They're delighted with Ryan and his contribution. So it's been a really positive loan for him. But a big pre-season awaits him. And his challenge now will be to force his way in. I've got no problem about playing him. If he forces his way in.”
Osula, who never scored a league goal for United before moving to the Premier League in a deal that could eventually net United as much as £15m plus extras from any future deals, is one recent inspiration for One but there are plenty more.
“I talked about an example of David Brooks back in the day,” added Wilder, who sold the Welsh international to Bournemouth for big money after a huge breakthrough season at Bramall Lane.
“He was in and around the first team, had a great pre-season and then, all of a sudden, he was the main man. He had a fabulous season and then obviously got his move. So it’s a big summer for Ryan.
“Rest, relax and come back. And hopefully he can play a part in what will be a much better campaign. And one where we won't be anywhere near the position, in my opinion, that we are now.
“He's a level-headed boy. He's got qualities. He's got to work hard Physically, he's good. So that fits the profile of what we want from our centre-forwards as well. And confidence is a big thing.
“Playing in a winning team. Having that feeling of achieving something. And wanting more of that. He's been around our first team and he’s had some great moments. Like his goal at Bristol City.
“His involvement in the team last season. So he knows internally what I want it to look like. And when he's gone away, he's been a success. He'll have enjoyed it. He's achieved something. And he'll be, hopefully, hungry to repeat that next season.”