Sheffield United’s emerging dressing-room leader unmasked as rapid rise continues with latest cap
The Sheffield United midfielder continues to make his mark on and off the pitch, with captain Japhet Tanganga revealing the qualities that have made Sydie Peck a leader inside the dressing room.
It may seem at times like he has been around forever, but Sydie Peck is still very much in the formative stages of his footballing journey. The former Arsenal youngster came to the fore the season before last when fellow academy graduate Oliver Arblaster suffered a devastating ACL injury.
He was a driving force in United reaching the play-off final that year and has cemented his place in United’s midfield this season, with more experienced campaigners such as Jairo Riedewald and Joe Rothwell having to watch from the stands.
Peck’s progress has not gone unnoticed outside Bramall Lane either. The combative midfielder has also established himself at international level and earned his latest England U21 cap earlier this week in a 4-2 win over Kazakhstan at Wolves’ Molineux stadium.
Chris Wilder made no secret of his desire to add more personality and character to his squad in the summer, but that wasn’t restricted to older players and Peck is seen as someone who has both traits in abundance.
And that hasn’t gone unnoticed behind the scenes either. “I wear the armband but trust me, there are a lot of people in that changing room that are leaders,” said skipper Japhet Tanganga recently.
“And they make it a lot easier for me. When I need to, I speak but when I don’t, it's just about leading by example and just helping the group when needed. Having conversations between the gaffer and the players, to relay messages either way.
“Everyone knows what Sydie is like as a character and you can see his passion. He’s another player I’m talking about in the changing room, who makes my job a lot easier. He’s a leader in there, and we have many in there.
“Some you may not think they would be, with their experience, but they are. And trust me, we see that and we know it. It makes my job a lot easier because we work together.
“You see it on the pitch with Sydie, he gives 100 per cent every time he steps out there and he’s all-in in the changing room as well.”