Enda Stevens determined to prove doubters wrong at Stoke City, after Sheffield United exit

The two-time promotion winner with the Blades joined the Potters on a free transfer following his Bramall Lane departure, which was announced earlier this summer following United’s promotion back to the Premier League.

The latter stages of Stevens’ Bramall Lane career saw him struggle for consistent fitness after a spate of niggling injuries but at his best, he was a marauding wing-back who offered a genuine threat down the left wing as United reached the Premier League, and then finished ninth in their first season back.

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Despite turning 33 on Sunday, Stevens is confident of making a difference at the Bet365 Stadium after penning a one-year deal with Alex Neil’s side. “Enda brings experience; he’s won promotion from the Championship twice, which I think is important because you want to get people into your environment who know how to win,” Neil said.

“If you look at some people’s careers, you can see the winners and you get guys haven’t been successful, they don’t know what it feels like. I know Enda as a character because I know a lot of people who know him. We’ve got a lot of people in common in terms of who we know. I know what he’s going to bring in terms of personality to the changing room.

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“He’s a very good player, very good technical player, he’s got a very good left foot and knows how to get the job done. I think the biggest thing as well when I met Enda – because I meet a lot of players in terms of speaking to them about their appetite to come here – I get the sense for him that he’s extremely determined because last season obviously wasn’t his best in terms of availability.

“I think he feels as if some people might have written them off a little bit and when you’re a proud and good player, that gives you a bit of fire in your belly. In that respect, I think he’s really determined to show everybody how good he is.”

Stevens, who played over 200 times for the Blades after signing on a free transfer from Portsmouth in 2017, left Bramall Lane this summer alongside Billy Sharp, Jack O’Connell and Kyron Gordon.