Ismaila Coulibaly is back training with Sheffield United, this time it looks like he will be staying, and Paul Heckingbottom has already issued the challenge to Coulibaly.
The 21 year-old midfielder is still waiting on his official documents to come through, Heckingbottom revealed at media duty on Thursday. There are no issues in regards to him obtaining a work permit. Heckingbottom is hopeful that the documents will be sent through in time for Sheffield United’s preseason tour which takes place in Portugal, in July.
The Malian International was signed by Sheffield United in September 2020 from Sarpsborg, for a fee in the region of £2M. Coulibaly was instantly sent on loan to Beerschot, in Belgium’s top league, for two seasons.
Initially the plan was to keep Coulibaly at Beerschot for three seasons, but the United World team suffered relegation into the Belgian 2nd division last season. This meant that if the Blades were going to bring Coulibaly to the Lane, they had to do it this summer, otherwise he wouldn’t qualify for a work permit in the UK.
The midfielder had an excellent first season at Beerschot, scoring 5 goals as well as putting in some energetic performances. Unfortunately his progression and form was put to a halt when he sustained a foot injury at the back end of the 20/21 season.
Things didn’t get any easier for him when he suffered a back injury in November 2021, which put him out of action for a few months.
There is a lot to like about Coulibaly, he is a highly energetic and athletic player, with goal-scoring ability. But he needs to impress United’s coaching staff in preseason, and Heckingbottom has already publicly issued the challenge:
“He (Coulibaly) found it tough in terms of the physicality and the training intensity.” As Heckingbottom reflected on his recent stint at the training facilities at Shirecliffe. “He’ll find pre-season tough but we want him to experience it and get the full benefit. He is our player after all.” [Quotes from YorkshireLive]
Heckingbottom added:
“The only way we would get him anywhere near our team if he is good enough is getting him acclimatised to what English football and the Championship is. Regardless of whether he’s getting minutes, I think he needs to feel it and experience it.” [Quote from YorkshireLive]
The manager’s words indicate that Coulibaly is going to have to prove that he is up for the physicality, in pre-season.
Coulibaly has been waiting for an opportunity to play in English football. Since he was a kid he dreamed of playing in the Premier League.
Now he has the chance to make that dream a reality, if he can help Sheffield United secure promotion back to the Premier League this season.