Sheffield United: Manchester City's James McAtee makes changes to become a key player

Paul Heckingbottom extolled the youngster’s ability to pick a pass and then execute it. Journalists tasked with covering the move, once McAtee was signed, sealed and delivered, found themselves being drip fed information suggesting United had acquired the services of a player regarded as England’s next big thing. In coaching circles. Where, so the narrative went, folk really know what they’re talking about and opinions aren’t swayed by things like hype, aura or PR savvy agents.

Entering the World Cup break on the back of his best performance for United, which helped swing last weekend’s game against Cardiff City in their favour, McAtee could become a powerful weapon in the club’s armoury across the Christmas and New Year period, which will see Heckingbottom’s squad attempt to cement its position in the automatic promotion places. Aged 20, he might have some way to go before he can justifiably be described as the next David Silva; an idea several people on the periphery of the deal which brought him to Bramall Lane aggressively peddled soon after he arrived.

But after initially struggling to acclimatise to life in the Championship, where seasoned professionals delight in wrecking big reputations, McAtee is now grasping how to translate talent into match-winning displays.

“The physicality isn’t what I’m bothered about with James,”Heckingbottom told The Star, insisting those who claimed he wanted him to become stronger and more combative were mistaken. “He’s always going to get bashed about because of the skill set he’s got. Yes, you’ve got to be able to stand up to that, of course you have. And that’s an important process to go through, everyone has to do that when they come through.

“What I was actually referring to, when we were talking about his displays, was his value without the ball. What he did when he wasn’t in possession, because there’s never been any doubt about what he’s capable of when he is. I think you can see he’s taking big leaps forward in that regard. Now we want to see it continue.”

The comparisons to former Spain and City maestro Silva, gratefully swallowed by more pliable members of the press, were unfair on both United’s coaching staff and also McAtee himself. An England under-21 international, the midfielder is clearly an exceptional talent and probably destined for big things. But these analogies, peddled by some folk working for United but ignored by Heckingbottom, created the impression that McAtee was already the finished article. Despite the fact his experience, before crossing the Pennines, amounted to six appearances for City. All of which had come from the bench.

Three games into his United career, when he was hooked at half-time after receiving a terrible mauling at the hands of Luton Town, it became apparent that McAtee still had a lot to learn. His performance in the Welsh capital confirmed he is ready to listen to information, digest it and then action it. Just as importantly, given the scrutiny he was under following that performance at Kenilworth Road, McAtee also clearly possesses character.

Although Pep Guardiola wasn’t actively involved in the discussions about where McAtee should spend the campaign when the decision was taken to place him with an EFL side, those entrusted with helping to develop the Etihad Stadium’s next generation of talent were aware the Catalan wants to see certain things in a player before considering him for first team selection. Ability is a given. So too is the intelligence to grasp often complex tactical instructions, given the way Guardiola likes to operate.

However, because City attempt to suffocate opponents and starve them of the ball, the capacity to press and win it back quickly is another prerequisite.

“At City, because they dominate teams even at under-21 level, James was only really practising one thing,” Heckingbottom explained. “You can see the quality he’s got when he’s on the ball. But they also want him to understand about regains; how to apply pressure and get it back before keeping it.”

“At this level, you rarely see teams having 70 or 80 percent possession during a game,” Heckingbottom continued. “So that becomes even more important. Then, when you do have it, you really have to make those moments count. That, what he does when he doesn’t have the ball, is something we’ve seen James really improve at. Referees in our division are giving more freedom now - letting more things go.”

Ten of McAtee’s 16 appearances for United have come from the bench, including his outing in the Welsh capital on Saturday. But enabling Heckingbottom’s men to “get on the front foot” as the 45-year-old later put it, one suspects the balance is set to shift when they return to action in the middle of next month. The aggression Heckingbottom wants to see from McAtee doesn’t involve him intimidating opponents with brute force. Rather, the determination to harass, hunt them down and then use his skill set to prise their defences apart. An admission the United manager made after seeing George Baldock’s second half strike settle the encounter against City will, maybe mistakenly, lend weight to the theory McAtee was signed because he expected Sander Berge to be sold during the summer transfer window. But with the Norwegian thought to be in the final stages of his recovery from injury, fathoming how best to accommodate them both will be a welcome problem to have.

“We’ve done a lot of work with James off the ball,” Heckingbottom said. “The problem is, we’ve sometimes done well in another shape which doesn’t 100 percent suit him. We know what he can do and we’ve seen more than a few glimpses of it. We want, we need, him to be able to drop on things and he has.”