Sheffield United are back in the Premier League, but have a squad that is lacking a lot of the talent that fought their way there
Prince Abdullah bin Musaid Al Saud was on the pitch at Bramall Lane moments after promotion to the Premier League was sealed. His team had just defeated West Brom, set on their way with a goal set up by the creativity of Iliman Ndiaye and tapped in by Sander Berge after a lung-bursting run from midfield.
The Greasy Chip Butty song rang out on the loudspeakers and the club’s owner congratulated his players. Loan pair James McAtee and Tommy Doyle from Manchester City celebrated their productive year away from the Etihad Stadium. Berge and Ndiaye were singing “we are going up” with the fans. Billy Sharp was also there, having sealed a second promotion to the top-flight.
Less than four months later the prize will come when Crystal Palace arrive in Yorkshire for the season opener. There will be fans in the stands, unlike when they were last in the Premier League and were relegated during Project Restart, losing the home advantage that their fans gave Chris Wilder’s team.
But those players who got them into the Premier League will not be there. Their most creative player, Ndiaye, was sold to Marseille where he has always dreamed of playing. McAtee and Doyle returned to City, while Sharp was not given a new deal and has left as a free agent. Berge, who was in the last year of his contract, was sold to Burnley last week although it is understood he was not pushing to leave.