Out-of-favour Sheffield United man could get surprise lifeline as Bramall Lane picture shifts once again
Out-of-favour Sheffield United man could get surprise lifeline as Bramall Lane picture shifts once again
Djibril Soumare could he handed a Sheffield United lifeline in the coming weeks after the midfield door creaked open a tad following Joe Rothwell’s debut red card. The Blades new boy was sent off just 35 minutes into his United career in Monday night’s defeat to Middlesbrough.
Rothwell was one of two deadline-day midfield signings for the Blades, with his arrival from Rangers - and Kalvin Phillips signing on loan from Manchester City - pushing Soumare further down the pecking order at Bramall Lane.
With only five temporary players allowed to be named on any one matchday teamsheet, the Braga loanee looked like being the odd one out. But with Rothwell out for the next three games, and Oliver Arblaster a doubt after making way through illness on Monday night, Soumare could suddenly find himself back in the fold.
For that to happen one of United’s other loan sextet - Tyler Bindon, Ki-Jana Hoever, Leo Hjelde, Phillips and Chieo Ogbene - would have to miss out. But it highlights again how quickly things can turn for players who at one stage were well down the pecking order.
Out-of-favour Sheffield United man could get surprise lifeline as Bramall Lane picture shifts once again
“I've always said the hardest part of my job is the players that are not playing,” admitted Wilder who, if all get back to full fitness, could have near double-figure options for the two slots in central midfield, admitted.
“But the hardest job for them is to be a team player as well. Some it comes naturally to. Like Gus [Hamer] who is a team player, but some go selfish on it. It's not a selfish business. We're all in.
“It's a team. So when decisions are made, players have to play their part as a sub and even play a part when they’re not involved. Because it quickly changes, as we’ve talked about before. We've lost Joe.
“Ollie's come off on Monday night. So all of a sudden maybe Soumare, who hasn't been involved, might get thrust back into the action. So you've got to have a consistent attitude. They’ll be disappointed [to not play], of course.
“I get that. But they’ve got to shrug that off quickly and put their energy and support into the players who are wearing the shirt, and have an opportunity of getting onto the pitch. Because they’d be expecting that if it was the other way around.”