Sheffield United: Sai Sachdev goes from "park" to professional football
Not so long ago, Sai Sachdev was kicking a ball around the playing fields near his hometown of Leicester, dreaming of one day becoming a professional footballer.
It was an ambition he fulfilled at Stoke City yesterday, after being introduced as a substitute during Sheffield United’s trip to the bet365 Stadium.
Although the match did not finish in the visitors’ favour, the Championship leaders slipping to a 3-1 defeat, it will forever be seared into Sachdev’s memory; no matter what he goes on to achieve throughout the rest of his career.
Speaking after the game, United manager Paul Heckingbottom told The Star why he elected to pick the teenager out of the Championship leaders’ development programme after seeing injuries continue to blight his defence.
“Sai is doing well,” he said, tracing the right-back’s rapid rise to prominence. “He was playing park football a couple of years back and we took him straight from there."
“He’s ‘s strong, athletic. He’s done himself no harm whatsoever out there.”
Sachdev was one of nine players on show in Staffordshire to progress through United’s system, including their captain Billy Sharp and City’s Phil Jagielka - who scored the second of the hosts’ three goals as Alex Neil’s men recorded a 3-1 victory. Oliver Arblaster and Daniel Jebbison were also brought on during the closing stages of the contest. Andre Brooks was an unused substitute while Iliman Ndiaye, Rhys Norrington-Davies and Kyron Gordon all started.
“Sai was the next one in line, with how the game is going,” said Heckingbottom. “He came out of grassroots football, which shows there are players out there.”
