Sheffield United have had a few standout performers across the season so far, and arguably the best performer in a Blades shirt is none other than Senegalese international Iliman Ndiaye.
Ndiaye, 22, is the club’s top goalscorer with six goals in fifteen appearances. He also has an assist to his name, making him the biggest contributor in terms of goals out of any other United player.
Despite this, Paul Heckingbottom is demanding even more from Iliman Ndiaye. Sheffield United’s manager told Yorkshire Live:
“The players. from day one, knew what he was. For me, I have seen him and worked with him at all levels.”
He added:
“He’s a player with unbelievable ability but it never transfers, for a couple of reasons. Some is decision making, like doing the right things in the game, and the other one is work rate.”
Iliman Ndiaye is a key cognitive piece in the Sheffield United team and they have relied heavily on him already this season – contributing to 7.3% of the Blades chances. Ndiaye gives United a pocket presence when he is on the pitch, and with his one and two-touch ability, he can link play even when under duress.
United’s promising forward has created on average a chance per game, which goes to show how reliant the Blades are on him.
Ndiaye has recorded 3.19 dribbles per game – completing 1.9 of those per game. This makes him Sheffield United’s best dribbler and he has showcased this several times already this season when he glides past players with ease.