Sheffield United: Rhian Brewster reveal may shock some | OneFootball

The forward has struggled for goals once again, but is impressing in another way.

Sheffield United have been excellent in 2024/25, and have recovered brilliantly from a dismal campaign in the Premier League.

Chris Wilder's return to the Championship with the Blades has perhaps gone better than even he could imagine, and his side head into Friday evening's clash with Leeds United at Elland Road in fine form.

They are now the only club to have not been beaten in the second tier this season, and went into the most recent international break with a fantastic 2-0 win over Luton Town at Bramall Lane.

While Jesurun Rak-Sayki made the headlines with his superb brace, the performance of Rhian Brewster in an unnatural position behind the striker was a clear example of just how important he can be for Sheffield United, four years after he made the ill-fated move from Liverpool for £23.5 million.

Although he picked up his first assist of the campaign again the Hatters, it's a different statistic that will get Blades fans talking.

Brewster ranks highly in an unusual stat

At 24, many had foreseen greater things for Brewster than he has achieved in the game so far, with the striker scoring just five times in nearly 90 appearances for Sheffield United.

However, it can be said that his all-round game has improved season-on-season, and he is still slowly developing into a decent Championship footballer.

While he has struggled in front of goal, he has proven to be exceptional in another way this year despite playing in more attacking roles.

Brewster is currently averaging 3.3 accurate long passes per 90, at a completion rate of 85.7%. Although he has not played too many minutes in 2024/25 so far, it is a part of his game that he has obviously worked on, and is something that could prove to be a difference-maker for the Blades this season.

Wilder boasts some fantastic wingers at the club, and being able to switch the ball from side-to-side will be an incredibly important feature of the team's game as they try and break down their opponents.

If he continues at this current rate, then he could prove to be a vital player for Sheffield United, and start to prove some of his doubters wrong.

Brewster will have to continue to work hard on other aspects of his game

Despite his excellent performance against Luton last time out, there is still a lot of pressure on Brewster to start scoring, and prove why he was signed for £23.5 million in 2020.

While his passing statistics are obviously very good so far this season, his shooting ones are not, and he must do more to get himself into positions that will allow him to start finding the back of the net more regularly.

The 24-year-old has had just one shot from inside the box in 2024/25, and that was blocked by a QPR defender in Sheffield United's 2-2 draw with the Rs earlier in the campaign.

Wilder will be happy with how Brewster has adapted to his new position, but if he does not start adding more goals to his game, then the Blades' boss may look for a replacement in the January transfer window.