Why Sheffield United won't be flooding their first team with young talent between now and the end of the season

Six weeks ago, when Paul Heckingbottom was appointed as Sheffield United’s caretaker manager, he found himself in the middle of a footballing maelstrom.
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Chris Wilder’s departure had outraged the fans, the players were confused by the timing of his departure and worse still, after stepping into the void created by the 53-year-old’s exit, there was less than 24 hours to prepare for a visit to Leicester City. Beaten 5-0 at the KP Stadium, that match went about as well as could probably be expected.

Nearly a month-and-a-half on, having had time to take a breath, take stock and a serious close-up look at the squad he inherited, Heckingbottom’s modus operandi is becoming clearer. With his room for manoeuvre limited by a glut of injuries, he has retained the 3-5-2 formation favoured by his predecessor. But the way United use it, how they attempt to launch attacks and press out of possession, are all subtly different now that when Wilder was at the helm.

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One thing Heckingbottom hasn’t radically changed, however, is how the club’s next generation of talent is being handled. The sight of Iliman Ndiaye making his debut in the east Midlands, coupled with the fact he was Bramall Lane’s under-23’s coach before replacing Wilder at the helm, created the impression youngsters would be rapidly ushered through through the ranks. Although several have been invited to join United’s matchday squads, with Zak Brunt and Kyron Gordon featuring on the bench against Brighton and Hove Albion, they have found minutes on the pitch more difficult to come by.

Sheffield, England, 24th April 2021. David McGoldrick of Sheffield Utd and Paul Heckingbottom interim manager of Sheffield Utd enjoy the win during the Premier League match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Picture credit should read: Simon Bellis / SportimageSheffield, England, 24th April 2021. David McGoldrick of Sheffield Utd and Paul Heckingbottom interim manager of Sheffield Utd enjoy the win during the Premier League match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Picture credit should read: Simon Bellis / Sportimage
Sheffield, England, 24th April 2021. David McGoldrick of Sheffield Utd and Paul Heckingbottom interim manager of Sheffield Utd enjoy the win during the Premier League match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Picture credit should read: Simon Bellis / Sportimage

Heckingbottom reaffirmed his commitment to developing homegrown talent before overseeing his first victory at the helm, but explained why it would be doing the likes of Ndiaye, Brunt, Gordon and centre-forward Antwoine Hackford a disservice to simply throw them in at the deep end.

“There’s a lot of data, a lot of evidence, to show that players who make their debuts at the beginning of a season go on to have far more successful careers than those who come in at the end of one,” he said. “I think that’s because, very often, if they get chucked in during the final few games it’s really a token gesture. That’s not the case in every single situation, obviously, because things happen that can dictate how and when people progress.

“I want to see these lads come through, in fact I think it’s vital for a club to have a crop of hungry, capable and exciting players looking to make the step up and who are capable of making the step up.

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“But they’ve also got to show they are good enough, and be ready to perform when they do make that step. Otherwise, it doesn’t mean anything really.”

Sheffield, England, 24th April 2021. John Fleck of Sheffield Utd  in congratulated by Jason Tindall assistant coach of Sheffield Utd  and Paul Heckingbottom interim manager of Sheffield Utd during the Premier League match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Picture credit should read: Simon Bellis / SportimageSheffield, England, 24th April 2021. John Fleck of Sheffield Utd  in congratulated by Jason Tindall assistant coach of Sheffield Utd  and Paul Heckingbottom interim manager of Sheffield Utd during the Premier League match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Picture credit should read: Simon Bellis / Sportimage
Sheffield, England, 24th April 2021. John Fleck of Sheffield Utd in congratulated by Jason Tindall assistant coach of Sheffield Utd and Paul Heckingbottom interim manager of Sheffield Utd during the Premier League match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Picture credit should read: Simon Bellis / Sportimage

Heckingbottom’s refusal to push his candidacy for the job on a permanent basis by plundering the ranks of the Steelphalt Academy should, in one sense, be applauded although nothing will do that quite like results. But by refusing to play to the gallery, particularly the one inside United’s boardroom, Heckingbottom’s willingness to hand the likes of Gordon and Brunt frontlines roles as he attempts to organise an orderly exit from the Premier League confirms, much more than a cameo appearance at the end of a top-flight contest, his belief in their potential. Ndiaye has been noticeable by his absence in recent weeks, with United yet to confirm if this stems from the progress of their contract talks with the midfielder or a fitness issue.

“If the under-23’s have been performing well enough and are good enough, yes, they’ll come through,” Heckingbottom continued, reminding that social distancing measures introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic have been problematic. “We may have had more on the bench if it weren’t for the restrictions, about how you can integrate at a training ground and things like that.

“But you can’t give them, first team opportunities, away. TThey have to be earned and earned properly, in the right way.

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“As I say, those making debuts at the start of a season are statistically far more successful than those at the end - because very often that’s just happening for the sake of it.”

Zak Brunt of Sheffield Utd celebrates scoring the second goal during the Professional Development League match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Picture date: 22nd March 2021. Picture credit should read: Simon Bellis/SportimageZak Brunt of Sheffield Utd celebrates scoring the second goal during the Professional Development League match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Picture date: 22nd March 2021. Picture credit should read: Simon Bellis/Sportimage
Zak Brunt of Sheffield Utd celebrates scoring the second goal during the Professional Development League match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Picture date: 22nd March 2021. Picture credit should read: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

With United already relegated, despite entering Sunday’s visit to Tottenham Hotspur on the back of a rare top-flight win, Heckingbottom’s primary concern at present is ensuring they are in the best possible shape to start next term in positive fashion. Confidence has understandably been an issue, meaning he is almost obliged to put his faith in experience over the next five games. It will also be easier for those looking to establish themselves at senior level to do so in a line-up which has rediscovered how to win. But with Sander Berge, Jack Robinson and maybe even Chris Basham all edging their way back to fitness, Heckingbottom and his assistant Jason Tindall could face a series of tough selection decisions over the coming weeks.

Do they task United’s older professionals, some of whom may depart this summer, with the job of trying to climb off the bottom of the table? Or freshen things up by continuing to select graduates of United’s youth programme?

“We want to be in a position where we’ve got difficult choices to make,” Heckingbottom said. “We’ve not had a time when we’ve had everyone available and Chris didn’t either. That makes things much harder, as people recognise. But it’s important we present ourselves in the right way.”