Chris Wilder outlines Jordan Ayew plan at Sheffield United after Ghanaian legend's "whirlwind" Blades arrival
Jordan Ayew, the Ghanaian forward, completed his Sheffield United move on Tuesday and was registered in time to make the bench for the 2-1 win at Blackburn Rovers.
Sheffield United supporters may not have to wait long for a first glimpse of Jordan Ayew in a Blades shirt, manager Chris Wilder has suggested, after the Ghanaian legend completed a “whirlwind” 24 hours by signing for the Blades as a free agent. The forward - who captained his country at this summer’s World Cup - signed a one-year deal at Bramall Lane.
He was registered in time to take his place on the bench for Tuesday night’s victory at Blackburn Rovers, with the Blades sanctioning a loan exit for Ehije Ukaki earlier in the day. He has returned to his former club Botev Plovdiv, freeing up a space in United’s 25-man EFL squad for Ayew.
While he is not expected to start games for the Blades in the near future, he could provide another useful option in a squad that had its most creative player, Callum O’Hare, dragged away by Wrexham on deadline day.
“Signing Jordan's a big one for us,” Wilder said. “With his availability record, his experience, his versatility. He's had an absolute whirlwind 24 hours. He got off a plane on early Monday morning, got all the paperwork done.
“He has been training and doing a bit, but obviously we need to assess him as well. It’s good to have him here. Possibly he can do half an hour, 45 minutes. He's not really had a pre-season - he's been training in his dad's club in Ghana.
"He's an absolute legend over there. His availability, his record is incredible - 100 per cent, 99 per cent, 100 per cent availability. What he’s been doing is nothing like working with us, though, so we have to get our eyes on him pretty quickly.
“We had our eyes on him yesterday for a little while. I wanted him to be involved and use his experience. If he had come off the bench, he'd have come off the bench for us and he’s going to be a good player for us - versatility, experience.
"I don't know what people expect us to drop on in the market, but I feel he's a really good one to have - character, experience, played at the highest level, available and be good to work with, a top pro. His attitude towards joining us was first class.
"He had some other offers, but I'm delighted that we've got him and we'll work with him.”
Patrick Bamford was left on the bench at Ewood Park after reporting an issue with his knee, while Wilder reported that Mark McGuinness missed out with a tight quad and Jamie Shackleton was ill.