Sheffield United fans sent exciting Jesurun Rak-Sakyi promise after Crystal Palace recall clarity
Sheffield United fans sent exciting Jesurun Rak-Sakyi promise after Crystal Palace recall clarity
Sheffield United supporters have not yet seen the best of Jesurun Rak-Sakyi in a red and white shirt, boss Chris Wilder believes, after confirmation from Crystal Palace that the youngster will spend the season in South Yorkshire. The England U21 international has impressed of late after getting to grips with life in the Championship, and travels to West Brom this weekend with two goals and an assist in his last three games.
Rak-Sakyi has proved a real handful cutting in off the right flank onto his left foot and has made that position his own, despite starting the campaign on the bench behind United academy product Andre Brooks. Rak-Sakyi’s good form, and Palace’s struggle in the Premier League, sparked some concerns that he may be recalled to Selhurst Park in January but that was shut down recently by Oliver Glasner.
“He wanted to leave,” Glasner said last week. “If a player wants to leave, then it’s better to allow it. If a player doesn’t want to be here, it makes no sense to put chains over his arms. We won’t recall him. He hasn’t played every game there. Yes, now he’s in a good phase. But we shouldn’t judge him on a good two weeks – he has to show it over the whole season.”
Wilder will agree with the Austrian on the final point as he looks to keep the hammer down in the Blades’ push for an instant return to the Premier League after relegation last season. They went into this week two points clear of second-placed Burnley at the top of the Championship table, although they may be playing catch-up by the time they walk out at the Hawthorns this weekend if their rivals take care of business beforehand.
“We're looking to improve the players,” said Wilder, “whether they're our players or loan players. When Jes goes back at the end of the season hopefully he'll be a better player for the experience. That's what you try to do. We've been fortunate at Sheffield United that those players, whether it's Tommy Doyle or Morgan Gibbs-White or Dean Henderson, have been on a positive rise and that's what we're looking for for Jes.
“He’s come up to Sheffield, getting himself out of the comfort zone of his home and where he's been for all his life in South London. He’s come up the road and has to deal with new teammates and a new club and new supporters and a new manager. A dfferent environment, different weather. I didn't recognise him in training last week, because he had that many layers on. I just saw his eyes and said: 'I think that's Jes.'
“Then he did a couple of stepovers and I went: 'Yeah, that's Jes!' We're delighted with him and there's more to come. There's more to come as a team, I believe. We will improve through the season. Will we carry on collecting the points we have so far? I haven't got a crystal ball but through experience, the team will get better. The individuals will get better and hopefully we can continue in this rich vein of form and results. And Jes will be a major part of that.”