Why Joe Worrall could be a brilliant signing for Sheffield United
According to The Guardian, Nottingham Forest defender Joe Worrall is considered to be on the radar of Sheffield United.
Worrall, 22, came through the ranks of Nottingham Forest’s youth system and plied his trade with Rangers last season on a season-long loan spell. Since returning to the City Ground in August, he has been a consistent member in Forest’s squad.
His presence at the heart of the defence has helped the Reds reach 4th place in the Championship, with a game in hand. He has been a revelation under Sabri Lamouchi, who has given him enough time to continue with his development.
Meanwhile, Sheffield United are flying high in the top-tier of English football after some scintillating displays, which saw them outperform some big guns in the league. The Blades were brilliant against Arsenal earlier and matched the level of teams like Tottenham, Manchester United and Wolves.
Chris Wilder’s men are 8th in the league and are putting up a brave fight, week in and out. The Blades have an organized set of forwards, who are capable of interchanging positions within themselves and have led the attack brilliantly so far.
Their midfield too looks to be in better shape, with John Lundstram taking centre stage and John Fleck playing in a free role.
After improving the offensive unit, the report suggests that Wilder would be looking to add depth to his defensive ranks, as the manager has just three centre-backs at his disposal.
They have been playing in every possible game but it could become a problem when the situation gets tougher. The English manager has favoured the three-man defence in every league game this term.
Chris Basham, John Egan and Jack O’Connell have carried out their duties in the perfect way, thus forming a strong partnership. But without a proper backup, the Blades cannot risk their main players in the second half of the season.
Therefore, it would be wise of Wilder to bring in reinforcements to the backline so that he can rest his players whenever necessary.
In that regard, Joe Worrall would be an adequate addition to the side. He would be the right person to help the team in tough times, given his performances for Nottingham Forest.
The 22-year-old has played the whole 90 minutes in every game under Lamouchi this term and his stamina is something that should be taken note of. He has been a strong force for his side and has helped them keep 9 clean sheets in 25 games.
Despite lacking game time in his loan spell with Rangers, Worrall’s transformation has been surprising and has attracted a lot of Premier League teams including Arsenal. He is exactly the player that fits the bill of Sheffield United, and Wilder can expect him to be at the top of his game.
At 6ft 2in, Worrall is a technically gifted player, who can play from the back and his understanding of the game has been remarkable. He has registered 0.6 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 5.4 clearances per game in the Championship. He has also enjoyed a pass success rate of 81.1%, according to Whoscored.
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Verdict
At 22, this is the right time to make a name for himself in the Premier League and with Sheffield United, he would surely evolve into a better defender if given a chance. He would definitely bring his qualities to Wilder’s side.
Therefore, Sheffield United must not hesitate to make a move for him and he would be the right replacement for the ageing Phil Jagielka and Chris Basham.