John Egan reveals the Sheffield United striker he is 'frightened' of

Egan was speaking as Chris Wilder’s side began applying the finishing touches to their preparations for tonight’s game against Newcastle; a match the manager hopes will see his team win for the second time this season following last weekend’s FA Cup victory over Bristol Rovers.

Although scoring goals has been an issue for United since finishing ninth in the table last term, Egan is adamant the confidence boost that Saturday’s victory should deliver can help unlock the potential within an attack boasting the likes Oliver Burke, David McGoldrick, Rhian Brewster and Lys Mousset.

“All of the strikers here are really good players and they compliment each other a lot,” Egan said, after watching Burke score his first United goal at the Memorial Stadium. “To have that firepower and pace is brilliant, we’ve just got to try and get the best out of it.

“Oli’s pace is frightening to be honest. You can see it in training. Hopefully now he’ll feel even more confident, after getting off the mark, and we can all kick-on.”

Wilder has attributed United’s recent struggles - after taking only two points from their last 17 top-flight matches, they find themselves 12 adrift of safety - to a combination of profligate finishing and lapses in concentration at the back.

Egan echoed that sentiment when he addressed the media via Zoom from the Steelphalt Academy training complex yesterday, insisting that United need to address “the small details” rather than make major changes to either their system or starting eleven.

“The good thing about the strikers here, and being a defender I’m in a good position to judge I suppose, is that they all compliment each other really well. We’ve definitely got the talent and quality to do well up there.

“Even with Mouss, who has been struggling with injuries a bit this year, you’ve seen his pace as well and the problems he can cause defences. If we can get him on a roll, that’s what we all want to see.”

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