Rival boss answers Sheffield United transfer question after “dynamic” man's impact amid future uncertainty
Rival boss answers Sheffield United transfer question after “dynamic” man's impact amid future uncertainty
Julien Stéphan, the QPR manager, remained tight-lipped about the possibility of trying to sign Sheffield United defender Rhys Norrington-Davies on a permanent basis after hailing the impact of the “dynamic” left-back since he made the summer switch to Loftus Road. The 26-year-old was allowed to move to the capital by then-boss Ruben Selles.
Despite being a senior Welsh international he was some way down the pecking order at both left-back and at centre-half, with the Blades further strengthening the latter position in the final days of the summer transfer window.
Norrington-Davies also needed to play regular football after a torrid recent time at Bramall Lane, which saw him suffer two serious hamstring injuries and his dream of representing his country at the World Cup back in 2022 wrecked.
But he is impressing at Loftus Road, even if his season was interrupted by being unable to play against his parent club at Bramall Lane on Saturday in a goalless draw than ended a recent losing streak for both clubs.
Rival boss answers Sheffield United transfer question after “dynamic” man's impact amid future uncertainty
Speaking recently, Blades boss Chris Wilder appeared to suggest that the defender would not be recalled in January, despite a well-publicised desire to freshen up the squad he reinherited from Selles earlier this year, and Frenchman Stéphan has enjoyed working with him.
“He’s a very dynamic player,” he told The Star after Saturday’s draw. “He has started very well with us. He did some very good performances and then he had a little injury. We played Sheffield Wednesday and Oxford in four days and he was probably the best player on the pitch in the two games.
“But then he had a little injury in the calves, stopped for two weeks and the restart was more difficult. But his last game against Southampton on Wednesday was very good and we found again the same Rhys from before the injury.
“We are happy with his performance because he's able to win a one-v-one defensively and he's able to run offensively as well, to support our offensive player. He has good quality as well in crosses. He’s a good player.”
After one difficult appearance for the Blades this term, on the opening day of the season as United lost 4-1 to Bristol City to set the tone for their campaign so far, Norrington-Davies has played nine times for Stéphan’s side.
“I think for us, it's very important to have some reliable players,” he added. “And he's a reliable player, both offensively and defensively. And he has a very big strength in terms of ability to repeat the run.
“And for us, it's very important because I want to have some active full-backs with danger in the final third. So he has got this kind of ability.”
Asked if the defender was someone he would like to work with on a more long-term basis, with his contract at Bramall Lane now in its last 18 months, Stéphan admitted coyly: “Obviously, he's only come to us on loan.
“I stay focused just on the moment and at the moment, he’s on loan. So let's see at the end of the season, how the situation will evolve. But for now, he's on loan and I'm very happy to work with him.”