What Sheffield United boss said about Reda Khadra's Blades future after Bristol City sub

Khadra was handed a rare start for the Blades with Tommy Doyle injured, but lasted just over half an hour at Ashton Gate before being replaced by James McAtee.

Heckingbottom was at pains to stress after the game that the decision was tactical, rather than a reflection on Khadra's performance, and it was certainly vindicated as McAtee provided the cross for Iliman Ndiaye's winner. The manager spoke with the German loanee after the decision and plans to do so again before this weekend's clash with Burnley.

"He's in the same place he was before the game," Heckingbottom said. "Nothing's changed because of that game, it was purely tactical. That game hasn't changed anything."

Asked if Khadra had expressed any desire to return to Brighton in January, after a generally disappointing start to life at Bramall Lane, Heckingbottom said: "You'd have to ask him but we need him, he's here for us. We have 14 outfield players, we need him.

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"I didn't put him in his best position [at City], we need to be on top to see the best from him.

"We had no control of the game so him not getting in the positions was not his fault."

Khadra was the subject of some bizarre comments from bitter City boss Nigel Pearson, who branded the winger "a huge disappointment", "high maintenance" and "a difficult character" after Tuesday's game.

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"He's been fine with us, no problem at all," Heckingbottom added. "I'm not sure where Nigel's worked with him before, but we've had no issues with him whatsoever."

On the decision to take off Khadra, Heckingbottom added: "I knew after a few minutes. this is why I stressed it was nothing to do with Reda.

"We only had Flecky and Ollie [Norwood] as recognised central midfielders and I knew Flecky was going to struggle to last the game. So where do you go with it? We had to go to a three. I was holding and holding for something to change. But I'd have kicked myself if I hadn't because we had to get control in some way."

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