Sheffield United hidden gem continues impressive rise to prominence as centre-back search goes on
Sheffield United hidden gem continues impressive rise to prominence as centre-back search goes on
When Sheffield United's pre-season campaign kicked off at FC Halifax Town earlier this month, the sight of Jamal Baptiste in the Blades' starting XI may have been interpreted as a decision of necessity. The Blades had ended last season needing a couple of centre-halves and had not signed any.
Baptiste had just returned from his loan spell at Rotherham United, where he impressed but couldn't prevent them from sliding into League Two. As far as Bramall Lane auditions go, it wasn't the most ideal.
But football has a funny habit of creating the most unexpected chances and the message to the 22-year-old Baptiste going into the summer was clear; go and make the most of it.
And no-one can say he has not done that. He has started every game of United's pre-season campaign so far, jumping ahead of the more experienced Mark McGuinness and a senior Swedish international in Nils Zatterstrom in the Blades pecking order.
All this is not to say that all will be well in the world if Baptiste is still first-choice in a couple of weeks, when the Blades take on Birmingham City in their Championship opener.
But at the same time he has earned a chance to be a part of next season's plans, perhaps in an ideal world as the third or fourth-choice centre-back and learning his craft from those around him.
His ability has never been in doubt; poor players don't tend to earn contracts at West Ham United and Manchester City. But you never truly know if a player is capable of swimming until you chuck him in the deep end and to be fair to Baptiste, he has passed every test thrown at him so far.
The latest came on familiar territory yesterday at the New York Stadium, where he once again lined up to the left of skipper Japhet Tanganga. Tanganga spoke glowingly about his young teammate earlier this summer and was indebted to him early on when a loose touch let in Fabio Tavares down the Millers left, but Baptiste had anticipated the danger and was able to mop up.
For such an inexperienced player - at 22, he seems a little old to be classed as young - his maturity was impressive. He seemed to judge well when he could take the ball down and retain possession and when, to coin a phrase from well before his time, it was best to knock it.
He doesn't seem to lack confidence either, driving forward with the ball a couple of times when the Millers stood off United and he couldn't spot a better option. He certainly didn't have the rabbit-in-headlights look you sometimes see from those coming into the senior environment for the first time.
He hasn't cracked it; he only has to look at the number 33 on his back, formerly worn by Rhys Norrington-Davies around these parts, for a reminder of how quickly things can turn.
And stiffer tests lie ahead than against a Millers side showing little sign of waking up from their slumber last season. But if he can keep taking the opportunities ahead of him then, on the evidence so far, United may have unearthed another gem.