“If you had, one shot, or one opportunity” as Eminem once so eloquently put it.
That is the scenario facing one member of the Sheffield United squad, as the man ahead of him in the pecking order is set to miss the next couple of weeks.
Speaking in his press conference ahead of the game with Newcastle United, Chris Wilder gave an update on the fitness of Enda Stevens and said that he would be out for the next couple of weeks, with Ben Osborn set to take his place in the team.
Is Enda Stevens our most important player?
Yes
No
Osborn has been someone that can be considered rather unlucky not to get into the squad this season, having only made seven appearances in the league this season, amounting to just over two hours of football, something I’m not entirely sure he envisioned when he signed for the club back last summer.
He just so happened to come into a team that is doing so well in the league that you don’t want to risk changing a winning formula.
Now though, he’s set to get a run in the first team rather than just a cameo appearance or a one-off in a cup game, like he has at various points through the season. This is arguably going to be his best chance to stake a claim for a regular spot in the side once Stevens returns to full fitness.
And whilst I said you don’t want to change a winning formula, if Osborn can show that he can play the role as well as Stevens, which judging by the reaction he gets from Blades fans shouldn’t be ruled out at this stage, then he could find himself taking the role for an even longer stretch of time.
Who knows, maybe then Stevens will be the one that has to wait for Osborn to get injured to get his place in the team back?