Heading into Monday night’s blockbuster contest with Leeds United in the Championship, Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United had picked up four league victories on the trot in February.
That purple patch of form would, unfortunately, come to a crashing halt at the hands of Daniel Farke’s Whites, however, with a late flurry of strikes gifting the league leaders a monumental 3-1 win.
It ended up being a night where none of Wilder’s substitutions really worked, with Rhian Brewster left rooted on the bench throughout despite somewhat turning around his fortunes in South Yorkshire recently.
Brewster's up-and-down time at United
Fresh off being a goalscoring menace for the Liverpool U21s, United would push the boat out to land Brewster’s signature back in 2020.
The now 24-year-old would bag a blistering 13 strikes and pick up ten assists from 28 clashes in that Reds age bracket, but the Blades would still arguably pay way over the odds to land the deadly forward with a fee around the £23.5m region winning his services.
Since then, the ex-Anfield wonderkid has struggled to be consistent at Bramall Lane, whether that is by firing home enough goals or just being able to put together a string of fixtures without falling victim to the treatment room.
In total, Brewster has only picked up a lowly seven goals and three assists from 106 Blades games, although four of those goal contributions have come under Wilder’s wing this unfolding campaign.
Regardless of this slight upturn in form, Brewster will still be considered a flop purchase just based on his extortionate £23.5m price tag, with a worry festering at Bramall Lane now that this other big buy will follow in his footsteps.
Wilder may now have next Brewster
Glancing at the promotion-chasing side’s winter transfer business is enough to show you how seriously Wilder and Co want to immediately return back to the Premier League, with statement signings such as Ben Brereton Diaz and Hamza Choudhury entering through the door on loan from top-flight clubs.
But, there was one permanent buy that really caught the eye in the EFL, with Tom Cannon exiting parent employers Leicester City – off the back of a goal-laden loan stint at Stoke City – to relocate to the Blades for a whopping £10m.
Lauded as a “super signing” for the club at the time by Wilder, already the alarm bells might well be ringing from an outsider looking in with the deal baring some similarities to Brewster’s cursed switch.
After all, Cannon was also regularly firing home goals when starring in Everton youth circles before his big break elsewhere, with a stunning 51 strikes picked up in total playing for both the U18s and U21s.
Club played for
Games played
Goals scored
Stoke
25
11
Preston North End
21
8
Leicester
16
3
Sheffield United
5
0
Everton
4
0
But, away from his blistering form for the Potters earlier this season, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the Republic of Ireland international in the men’s game, with blanks regularly fired on his end for Wilder’s men since making the £10m move a reality.
Injury issues haven’t helped his cause, but his showing off the bench against Leeds last time out really wouldn’t have got the United masses out of their seats, having registered just eight unmemorable touches of the ball from a 31-minute stint on the pitch.
Presumably substituted on to put the game beyond doubt, the striker – once lauded as “outstanding” by ex-Hull City boss Liam Rosenior – simply faded into the background, with anxiety present that the 22-year-old could go down as a transfer misfire instead of a success.
Much like they’ve done with Brewster, however, the second-tier side will remain patient with Cannon, but his goalless showings will still be a major cause for concern.
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ByKelan SarsonFeb 25, 2025