Sheffield United: Academy achieve results as Cox is headhunted

Nigel Adkins delivered the pledge after reiterating his desire to eventually see “50 per cent” of United’s squad made up of home-grown players having been impressed by the quality within Bramall Lane’s youth system.

The club’s success in developing players was highlighted when Cox, who has impressed since moving to South Yorkshire from Watford in 2012, accepted a key position with Manchester United earlier this month. Although United have yet to officially confirm his departure, The Star understands applications from potential replacements have already been received with interviews expected to be conducted over the coming weeks.

“I’m someone who has always had a huge interest and respect for academies,” Adkins, the United manager, said. “The work being done here is excellent and we want to keep on driving that forward. Striving to improve at everything we do.”

United’s youth system, recently named as the best in the region by researchers working on behalf of Elite Player Performance Plan chiefs, has produced more excellent results this season with Ben Whiteman, Graham Kelly, Aaron Ramsdale and Domnic Calvert-Lewin among the latest group of graduates to make the breakthrough at first team level.

Ramsdale, an England youth international, impressed as United’s under-18 squad reached the Professional Development League final with a 3-1 win over Watford last weekend while the under-21’s are preparing for their forthcoming PDL semi-final.