Following on from Sheffield United’s announcement about loan spells for Ben Heneghan and Nathan Thomas, the club also confirmed at the weekend that youngster Sam Graham had made a season-long switch out to Oldham Athletic.
The 17-year-old defender heads to the League Two side for much-needed experience and after a year of good games in our development setups, he will build on his loan spell with Halifax last season. Be interesting to see how he steps up to life in League Two at Boundary Park.
Great loan move to get some experience at a Good competitive level.
— ⚔️⚔️⚔️Jamie Davies ❤️????⚪️????⚔️ (@daviesblades83) July 6, 2018
Good loan move to get some experience at a very competitive level
— rob (@scholarrob) July 6, 2018
In other news, Sheffield United opened up their pre-season campaign with a solid victory over Stocksbridge Park Steels on Friday evening. Manager Chris Wilder took the opportunity to field two different sides in each half as he got 45 minutes of action into players and we also saw four different scorers get on the score sheet in the 5-1 victory.
Jon Fleck opened the scoring in the game before Billy Sharp added a second. He completed his brace ahead of the break. Tyler Smith got our fourth after the restart and Caolan Lavery added a fifth, although the hosts did get their consolation with 25 minutes remaining in the game.
All in it was a good test and Wilder was happy.
📽️ The Blades boss speaks following the opening game of pre-season – the now traditional trip to Bracken Moor 🔴⚪️⚫️⚔️ #twitterblades #ForgedAsOne #sufc pic.twitter.com/nrFeoSfm5e
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) July 6, 2018
Blades (first-half): Henderson, Baldock, Fleck, Basham, Clarke, Sharp, Stearman, Duffy, Lafferty, Slater, Norrington-Davies
Blades (second-half): Eastwood, Stevens, O’Connell, L. Evans, Lavery, Wright (Norrington-Davies), Leonard, Gilmour, Freeman, Holmes, Smith.
Goals – Fleck (12), Sharp (17, 42), Smith (49), Lavery (78).
Clarke and billy look good????????
— Joe Firth (@firth1502) July 7, 2018
It’s good to be back
— sheldong (@waynesheldon2) July 6, 2018
Ricky Holmes gets a game at last
— John (@JeJohnelwell) July 6, 2018
No ched, moore, coutts and lundstram
— Lukeeeee ⚔️ (@lahodder) July 6, 2018
Speaking to the Star following the game, Wilder also confirmed that Ched Evans had withdrew from the squad for the friendly as he’s on the verge of completing a loan out from the club but as of yet his potential destination remains undisclosed officially.
“It’s a deal until Christmas. It should be good for him and, long-term, for us.”
Former player Harry Maguire was also in the news at the weekend but I can’t think why.
#madeinsheffield @HarryMaguire93 👏🏼 🦁🦁🦁 #sufc #twitterblades pic.twitter.com/uYmqxau8FG
— Danny Hall (@dannyhall04) July 7, 2018
Well done @HarryMaguire93 , picture attached is from FA Cup Semifinal, my son Mohammad appearing
Good luck the rest of the way pic.twitter.com/8aXjBJkBiz— Abdullah Bin Mosaad (@Saudi49er) July 7, 2018
The Blades are now out in Portugal for our pre-season training camp and the hard work on the pitch has begun as we prepare for Thursday’s friendly with Maritimo Madeira.
📽️ TRAINING | First time on the grass for the lads in the Portuguese heat. There'll be a few more gruelling sessions ahead of Thursday's friendly with @MaritimoMadeira 🇵🇹⚔️🌞 #twitterblades #sufc #ForgedAsOne pic.twitter.com/lh2BiB6yvA
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) July 9, 2018
📽️ Leon Clarke will keep wearing his rain jacket for pre-season training – despite the sweltering heat of the Portuguese training camp 🇵🇹⚔️🌞 #twitterblades #sufc #ForgedAsOne pic.twitter.com/t2VdgQrGpe
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) July 9, 2018