Exclusive:Sheffield United discover Nottingham Forest's Tyler Bindon transfer stance as Chris Wilder makes feelings clear
Sheffield United discover Nottingham Forest's Tyler Bindon transfer stance as Chris Wilder makes feelings clear
Sheffield United are confident that Tyler Bindon’s immediate future remains at Bramall Lane as Nottingham Forest’s recall deadline over the young defender approaches. The 20-year-old joined the Blades in the summer to link up again with Ruben Selles.
The New Zealand international played under the Spaniard at Reading last season but both endured a tough start to life in South Yorkshire, to say the least, before Selles was sacked after losing all seven of his competitive games in charge.
Bindon then had a lengthy spell on the Blades bench but he has impressed since regaining his place following a couple of injuries, barring a tough afternoon at Wrexham on Boxing Day.
As recently as a few months ago there would have been few tears shed if Bindon’s loan spell in South Yorkshire was cut short at the halfway stage but he has impressed Unitedites with his personal turnaround, establishing himself in the side amid Ben Mee’s injury absence.
United keen to see Bindon remain at Bramall Lane but The Star has been told that Forest do have the option to recall him, with a deadline to do so before the midway point of this month.
But we understand that the Premier League side are happy for their player to see out the season in South Yorkshire after conversations between officials at Bramall Lane and the City Ground.
The fact that he is currently in the team will be a factor but even if he does face a fight for his place in the second half of the season, that will also benefit him as both a player and a person as he experiences the ups and downs of life in the Championship for the first time.
Sheffield United play Nottingham Forest waiting game over Tyler Bindon as Chris Wilder makes transfer feelings clear
Speaking recently, before United’s game on Sunday against Oxford was called off at the 11th hour, Wilder said of Bindon: “He’s been good. As I said before, I apologised because I should have left him in at West Brom [when United lost 2-0 and Bindon was dropped for the returning Mark McGuinness.]
“I don’t usually apologise, but I did on that occasion. Maybe I should have left the team as it was against Norwich. But there are always little reminders in there. He didn't have a very good night at Wrexham and neither did a few of us, as well, from a defensive point of view.
“He's a young boy. We don't want him to make mistakes, but he will do. But the performance of him and Japh [Tanganga, the United skipper] recently has been really good and really positive.
“At Stoke, they put two boys down the middle, two nines, maybe looking at the game previously and thinking they could stick it on us. It was a big challenge for them. I told them before that they’d have to defend crosses, and they were outstanding. I’m looking forward to working with him in the second part of the season.”
Bindon’s return to the side also saw him score his first goal in United colours, in a 3-0 win over Birmingham City last month, and he is a popular member of the United dressing room.
Speaking after that game about his future, he admitted: “I’m very grateful to the manager for giving me the opportunity. Football's a funny game, it has its ups and downs and you just have to ride the wave. Whatever happens, happens and you’ve just got to take it day by day.”
Asked if he would be happy to see out the season at Bramall Lane, Bindon added: “Yeah. I'm not too sure on everything that's going on, but at the moment my focus is here and now and where I am as a Sheffield United player.”
United have already lost one centre-half in this window, after cutting short Ben Godfrey’s disastrous loan move from Atalanta at the halfway stage, but Mee’s expected return from a hand injury will give Wilder a welcome dilemma after Bindon’s recent good form.