Paul Heckingbottom sees signs of recovery as Sheffield United offer former number two a new role

Although Heckingbottom admitted United had “missed an opportunity” to cause an upset at Stamford Bridge, missing several gilt-edged opportunities before eventually succumbing 2-0, he told The Star the sight of Thomas Tuchel’s side being pushed back for long periods of the second-half revealed plenty about the visitors’ character and calibre.

“I would rather we were still in it (the cup) but we will take the positives away with us and I think there were plenty,” Heckingbottom said, following his second match in caretaker charge. “We’ll look at what we did well and what we can do better.

“First-half, we were really good without the ball but I wanted us to be braver on it. Second-half, we were and I don’t think many teams recently have given Chelsea the problems that we did.”

After Oliver Norwood’s own goal had given the hosts the lead, David McGoldrick and Rhian Brewster both went close for United before Hakim Ziyech pounced in added time.

Although United are destined to be relegated from the Premier League after being cut adrift in the bottom three, Heckingbottom has reminded it is important they approach their remaining ni9ne matches in a professional fashion.

“The real positive thing is that’s given us something to build on,” he continued. “We weren’t scared, even though we knew the size of the task and that took guts.

“I’m sat here, looking at what happened, and I genuinely think nobody could argue if we’d have taken that to extra time or nicked it 2-1. We didn’t, and that stings. But it also says something about how the players set about things.”

Heckingbottom was assisted by former AFC Bournemouth manager Jason Tindall at Stamford Bridge, after Knill, previously Chris Wilder’s number two, received permission to miss the tie as he considers an offer to become United’s de-facto director of football. Although United’s hierarchy have not confirmed the exact details of the proposal they have tabled - and the 56-year-old also refusing to comment - it is understood to involve handing him responsibility for overseeing the club’s overall strategy and policy. If accepted, that would almost certainly see Knill, who remained on staff when Wilder parted company with United 24 hours before their 5-0 defeat by Leicester City, relinquish his day to day duties on the training ground. It is thought Knill will decline.

Heckingbottom, meanwhile, hopes to use the international break to coax some of his injured players back to fitness after confirming Billy Sharp (hip) and Chris Basham (muscle) have joined United’s lengthy casualty list.

“Billy, it’s his hip flexor,” Heckingbottom explained, predicting the centre-forward could be out “for a couple of weeks”. “With Bash, although I’m no physician, he took a whack earlier this week and whether it’s rebleeding or not, we’re unsure. But he is in too much pain to play, so we’ll have to take a look and see if it settles down.”

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