Sheffield United: This is why Gary Madine will be desperate to impress at Bramall Lane
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The Blackpool centre-forward spent five months with United towards the end of the 2018/19 season, helping them gain promotion to the Premier L eague after joining on loan from Cardiff City.
Madine, who represented Sheffield Wednesday earlier in his career, is now based at Bloomfield Road and scored his first goal of the campaign when Michael Appleton’s side warmed-up for their visit to South Yorkshire with a statement win over Watford.
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Hide AdAlthough Madine made no secret of the fact he wanted to remain with United rather than return to Wales, Paul Heckingbottom explained why the 32-year-old could prove a huge threat, telling The Star: “Gary played with some of the lads here and, definitely, he’ll be champing at the bit. As a player, whenever you come up against an old club, that’s how it is. You’re always determined to do well but maybe, in those situations, you feel it even more and that’s regardless of whether you had a good time or a bad time there.”
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Four of those Heckingbottom selected against Stoke City last weekend worked extensively with Madine during his spell with United, which saw him hit the target three times in six appearances.
One of those, Chris Basham, is thought to be particularly close with Madine and could find himself marking his friend as United attempt to secure their first win since the international break. Despite losing to Stoke and Queens Park Rangers as well as drawing with Birmingham City, they remain above second-placed Norwich City on goal difference.
“It just feels different, when you come up against an old club,” Heckingbottom continued. “You see familiar faces, you know the surroundings and it brings something out in you.”
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Hide AdUnited’s hopes of consolidating their grip on the division were dealt a blow when it was revealed both Jayden Bogle and Sander Berge are expected to be out of action until mid-December due to injury. Bogle had only recently returned from surgery to cure a troublesome knee complaint when it emerged a metal plate, inserted to protect part of the joint, was rubbing against it although Heckingbottom stressed the surgery itself had been “totally” successful. Insisting no blame should be attached to those who had performed those who had performed the procedure, Heckingbottom also told Thursday’s media briefing at United’s training complex that Berge had ruptured an ankle ligament towards the end of last week’s defeat by Rangers.
However, George Baldock could feature against Blackpool after missing the trip to the bet365 Stadium while fellow defender Anel Ahmedhodzic is also in contention. The Bosnia and Herzegovina centre-half has never lost a league fixture in United colours since completing a £3m transfer from Malmo during the close season. James McAtee and John Egan both sustained knocks in Staffordshire, although the latter was able to complete the game after receiving treatment on the pitch. Heckingbottom later insisted he would be available to face Appleton’s men, who are 19th in the table, before stressing McAtee was suffering from cramp.