The Sheffield United winger admits injuries have repeatedly arrived at the worst possible moments throughout his career, but a place at the World Cup with Curaçao offers the chance to write a new chapter this summer.

Tahith Chong, the Sheffield United winger, has bemoaned the injuries that have repeatedly struck at the worst possible moments throughout his career, as he prepares for a summer that could prove pivotal both at club and international level. The 26-year-old joined United from Luton Town last summer.

But an unconvincing debut season has left him with an uncertain future at Bramall Lane, even if there were flashes of his quality in a cameo appearance off the bench on the final day of the Championship season away at Derby County.

They have been few and far between, however, with the former Manchester United prodigy failing to dislodge Andre Brooks from the right-wing slot that he made his own in a disappointing season for United.

There was another reminder of the quality Chong possesses with a recent stunning solo goal on international duty with Curacao, in a 4-1 defeat to Scotland, and a good debut World Cup this summer could propel him further into the shop window.

Chong will feature for his country in this summer’s tournament after helping them qualify, as the smallest-ever nation by population to do so. But it also comes at the end of another frustrating campaign on a personal level, plagued by fitness issues and inconsistency.

Looking back on his career, Chong acknowledged that injuries have often arrived just as momentum was beginning to build. "Throughout my career, really, I have dealt with a lot of injuries," he said in a recent CBS interview.

"Probably not at the perfect timing, really. Even in the qualifiers, I missed two games as well for Curaçao and missed a few games [for United]. I didn’t really have a pre-season again this year as well."

Chong may not have represented value for money for United since his arrival last summer but the Blades will at least recoup some of their investment this summer with his involvement at the World Cup.

A cash pot of almost £300m has been set up by FIFA to compensate clubs whose players are released for the tournament, with the figure not officially confirmed but estimated at $11,000 per day.

That could land United around $250,000 even if Curaçao bow out at the group stage, and the number will only rise if they make it deeper into the tournament. They will also hope that Chong can continue the form he showed in front of goal against Scotland.

"I actually started playing football because of the World Cup in 2006," he added. Twenty years on from watching that tournament as a child, he is preparing to take part in one himself. "It's a full-circle moment, really."

His future at Bramall Lane may remain up in the air. But after another season disrupted by injury, the opportunity to represent Curaçao on football's biggest stage offers Chong a timely reminder of how far he has come - and perhaps how far he still has to go.