History maker and a kid who impressed Guti - Five names to watch from Sheffield United's exciting crop of U23 starlets

A 4-0 victory over city rivals Wednesday on Friday was the continuation of an impressive campaign so far, just days after QPR were also put to the sword at Bramall Lane.

New coaches Graham Coughlan and Darren Currie have continued where Paul Heckingbottom left off, before his elevation to the first team’s temporary manager following Chris Wilder’s departure earlier this month, and there is genuine excitement at Bramall Lane that some of their talented crop of youngsters can make a real impression in a red and white shirt in years to come.

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But who are the particular names to look out for from the academy?

Iliman Ndiaye

Born in France, Ndiaye is a product of the Rising Ballers academy and is a forward with all the tricks in the book, and an eye for goal – as his brace against Wednesday at Middlewood Road showed.

The most recent debutant to emerge from United’s youth academy – his introduction off the bench was the only highlight of United’s 5-0 hammering at Leicester recently – Ndiaye came through the youth ranks at Boreham Wood and was named as an U21 player in the squad United submitted to the Premier League at the start of the season.

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He spent time on loan at Hyde United last season and has done his chances of featuring again for the first team before the end of the season no harm at all with his performances of late.

Zak Brunt

Another player to have been involved in United’s senior squad this season, Brunt was born in Chesterfield but his route to Bramall Lane was not as straightforward as one might imagine.

His journey was detailed in journalist Michael Calvin’s book, No Hunger in Paradise. Brunt trained with United when he was a youngster, but after spells at clubs such as Aston Villa, Manchester City and Manchester United, Brunt and his father Glen grew disillusioned with the English youth set-up and flew to Spain.

There he caught the eye of Atletico Madrid - and the former Real Madrid star Guti - but was unable to sign for Atleti because of Fifa red tape.

Born in Chesterfield, impressed Guti and an £150,000 bounty on his head at 15 - who is Zak Brunt, the latest Sheffield United starlet?

He returned home and signed for Derby County, who placed a £120,000 bounty on his head with other clubs interested.

"Unless you're the next Cristiano Ronaldo, clubs don't want to pay £120,000 for a 15-year-old," Brunt said at the time. So he dropped into semi-professional football with Matlock Town, before signing for the Blades and penning a professional deal at Bramall Lane last year.

Femi Seriki

A winger by trade, Seriki started his career at Bury and was an ever-present as they reached the quarter-finals of the 2018-19 FA Youth Cup, losing to eventual winners Liverpool.

Seriki was left looking for a new club when Bury went bust, and he joined United. He has been deployed at right wing-back for the U23s of late and showed what he is capable of against QPR and Wednesday, when he tore forward at every opportunity with his lightning pace and set up Brunt’s goal against QPR with a lung-busting run down the right.

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He also scored the opening goal against Wednesday and is also eligible to represent Nigeria at international level.

Kyron Gordon

The centre-back has been on the bench for the first team in recent weeks, given United’s defensive injury crisis, and was reportedly on the radar of both Liverpool and Everton earlier this season.

Gordon travelled with United to Bristol Rovers for their FA Cup tie back in January and although he didn’t make it onto the pitch, will have learned from the experience – according to then-Blades boss Chris Wilder.

“I wanted to bring Kyron, because he's been involved with the first team a fair bit since pre-season,” Wilder said.

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“He's done well and I thought we might have needed the type of qualities he brings,' Wilder said after their 3-2 victory against Bristol Rovers.

“I think he'll have learned so much from being in and around the lads on a matchday. We know what his attitude is like and it will have taught him a lot.”

He signed a professional contract at Bramall Lane last summer.

Antwoine Hackford

United’s youngest-ever Premier League player, Hackford made his senior debut – at just 16 years of age – away at Crystal Palace earlier this season, a reward for a goal-laden season that has also seen him earn his first call-up to the England U17 squad for a four-day training camp at the end of this month.

Hackford, who has only recently completed his GCSEs at Sheffield's Springs Academy, was an exciting inclusion in United’s squad in pre-season – when he and Brunt were forced to perform a song for their teammates as part of an initiation ritual - and has been described as having electric pace by everyone who has seen him play.

A talented boy with great pace - Who is Sheffield United starlet Antwoine Hackford?

His development has been advanced by playing in the age group above – he made his debut for United’s U18s at 14 years old, and he played for the U23s at 15 – and he has an eye for goal, too. He recently turned 17 and his proud brother, boxer Anthony Tomlinson, believes that Hackford’s success is proof that kids from a council estate – the pair grew up on Arbourthorne – can make something of themselves.

United also have a host of young players also out on loan at EFL clubs, including Tyler Smith, Rhys Norrington-Davies and Regan Slater, and there are signs that the Shirecliffe conveyer belt – which produced the likes of Kyle Walker, David Brooks and Harry Maguire in recent years – is cranking back up again.

The Blades may be destined for a Championship return – but the future looks bright when they get there.

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