Reda Khadra earmarked for big Sheffield United role when season resumes after boss talks

Brighton and Hove Albion man Khadra has struggled to replicate the success of his spell at Blackburn Rovers last season, which effectively sealed his move to United in the summer. The winner away at Swansea City could have been the turning point for the 21-year-old but instead remains the only real highlight of his United career so far which has consisted of only four starts.

Khadra came on for the final two minutes of normal time at Cardiff City to help see out a 1-0 victory and boss Pail Heckingbottom was asked afterwards why the German didn’t start. “It was about the shape,” he said. “Last season, we played a 3-4-3 a lot of the time but the form of Iliman [Ndiaye] and Oli [McBurnie] this season means we’ve played with a two and a different shape behind them.

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“Macca [James McAtee] and Reda would have suited the [3-4-3] shape a lot better. But at the minute, they have to be better than Iliman or Oli Mac or Billy [Sharp], or better than Ollie Norwood and the boys who are playing in central midfield. But we still need to use their quality. Macca arguably won us the game at Cardiff and Reda came on and helped us see the game out with his pace when Iliman was flagging. Little things like that help, so everyone’s playing their part.”

Khadra’s United career reached its lowest point earlier this month when, after being handed a rare start away at Bristol City, he was substituted after just 34 minutes of the game at Ashton Gate. Although Heckingbottom was at pains afterwards to explain that the decision was purely tactical – McAtee, his replacement, delivered the cross for Ndiaye’s winner – it predictably raised more question marks about Khadra and United, and whether he may return to his parent club in January.

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In reality United are hardly in a position where they can afford to lose more players – especially with the prospects of any incomings during the January transfer window looking bleak – and when asked specifically if Khadra still had a part to play when the Championship season resumes after the World Cup break, Heckingbottom told SUTV: “Yeah, definitely. He knows his role, he’s got to understand it. You saw at Cardiff, he’s chomping at the bit to get on and when he comes on, he sprints first thing. He’s chasing for the team and that’s what we want.

“The unfortunate thing is that we’re only picking 11 at a time and this season, other centre-forwards have been a little bit frustrated with the form of the two who’ve been scoring goals. That’s how it’s been and it’s tough, you know? That’s my job, to chat with the players I’m not picking and get them to understand why and what they can do to get in the team.”

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