Can Sheffield United Winger Spark Blades Attack Into Life?
As domestic football prepares to return following a three-week international break, Sheffield United will be looking to come flying out of the blocks when Lincoln City visit Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon.
The Blades limped into the break on the back of three consecutive defeats in all competitions, with each loss coming by a single goal. Chris Wilder’s side were also having to contend with a growing list of injury problems, leaving the squad stretched.
However, the extended break has provided a valuable opportunity for several players to recover and build up their fitness.
Sam McCallum, Femi Seriki and Ryan Oné are among those who have been able to use the time away from competitive action to get back up to speed, giving Wilder some welcome options ahead of the visit of Lincoln.
Can Sheffield United Get the Best Version of Tahith Chong?
Another player who has benefited from the break is Tahith Chong. The winger endured a difficult debut season with the Blades last term. Chong struggled to find any real consistency and often looked short of confidence, with his performances failing to match the ability that had been evident earlier in his career.
Something appears to have changed over the summer, though. To be fair to Chong, there were already signs of a turnaround during the final game of last season. The Curaçao international came off the bench against Derby County and offered a glimpse of the directness and attacking intent that Sheffield United supporters have wanted to see from him.
He then carried that momentum into the summer. Chong was part of a Curaçao side that impressed during their World Cup campaign. Although they ultimately collected just one point from their group, they were an entertaining and ambitious team to watch, with Chong providing another outlet in the final third.
That form continued when he returned to South Yorkshire. Chong looked sharp throughout pre-season and found the net twice, seemingly putting himself in a strong position to make an impact for the Blades at the beginning of the new campaign.
Unfortunately, an injury suffered against Birmingham City interrupted his progress.
He only returned to the matchday squad for the trip to Stoke City before the international break arrived, meaning he has had to be patient before getting another opportunity to establish himself in Wilder’s plans.
Chong Returns to South Yorkshire Full of Confidence
The latest international window has, however, given Chong another chance to build rhythm.
The winger featured three times for Curaçao in their CONCACAF Nations League fixtures, scoring once and providing an assist. More importantly for Sheffield United, he has been able to put competitive minutes into his legs and return to Bramall Lane with his confidence seemingly high. That could prove significant for the Blades.
Sheffield United have lacked some attacking spark during their difficult run into the international break, particularly with the departures of Andre Brooks and Gustavo Hamer removing two important sources of creativity from last season’s team. A fully fit and confident Chong could help fill some of that void.
The 30-year-old offers something slightly different to some of Wilder’s other options. He is a direct ball carrier, capable of taking possession and driving towards defenders rather than always looking for the safe pass. He also possesses the willingness to shoot when an opportunity presents itself, something that can be invaluable against Championship sides who defend in numbers.
There is still plenty for Chong to prove at Sheffield United, particularly after his disappointing first season. But the version of the winger supporters have seen over the last four months looks like a completely different player.
If Wilder can keep that version of Chong fit and on the pitch, Sheffield United’s attack should benefit significantly. We shall await to see what kind of impact Chong has against Lincoln City on Saturday afternoon.
