Mixed fortunes for Billy Sharp as the Sheffield United captain reaches 300 appearances for the club

Ask any football supporter in Sheffield who Billy Sharp is and they’ll know the name. Whether they’re associated with Sheffield Wednesday and detest the 35-year-old or they’re a Blades fan and adore him. Everyone in the steel city knows him.

The boyhood Sheffield United fan has had a noteworthy career since making his debut for the S2 club as an 18-year-old in a 1-1 draw against Watford in 2004, both for the South Yorkshire side and other EFL outfits.

After a 17-year-long career, reaching 300 appearances for your boyhood club is a major accolade and honour for the United skipper.

The game in question against Hull City certainly won’t be up there with the most memorable of his career, however, it could certainly be reflected on as a significant victory come the end of the season.

After a tightly contested opening third of the first half at the MKM Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Wolves loanee Morgan Gibbs-White found himself enough space to produce a menacing cross that any centre-forward would crave.

Sharp was there, and the veteran gobbled up the opportunity, heading past Tigers goalkeeper Matt Ingram to mark his 300th United appearance with a goal and to give the South Yorkshire side the lead.

Despite scoring, the 35-year-old’s landmark day could’ve been even more satisfying when he was played through on goal and taken down in the area by Jacob Greaves.

There was only going to be one man to take the responsibility of placing the ball on the spot and putting it in the back of the net and that, of course, was Sharp.

Unfortunately for the striker, Ingram guessed correctly and produced a superb low stop to his right to deny the visitors from doubling their lead and to keep the Humberside club in the contest.

Luckily for Sharp, the penalty miss didn’t hurt his side as a John Egan brace in the second half, both goals from corners, were enough to put the affair to bed.

The hosts were able to get a consolation goal through Keane Lewis-Potter who was able to tap into an empty net late on to exterminate Hull’s torrid run of no goals since the opening day.

Now with three goals and three assists in all competitions this season, Sharp has been one of Slavisa Jokanovic’s most trusted servants since the Serbian took charge.

It’s even more impressive to think that the striker is first-choice when you consider the fees paid for those who have been consistently benched as a result of the captain’s efforts. Oli McBurnie and Rhian Brewster are the ones referred to here whose combined transfer fees amount to an excess of £40 million.

300 appearances in the red & white. ?

Legend. @billysharp10 ? pic.twitter.com/0gCAZnDYjv

— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) September 18, 2021

The effort will always be there from Sharp, especially for his beloved Blades, but the striker has already proved in the opening stages of the season that he will prove vital if United are to make a serious promotion bid.

Seven points from nine, 11 goals scored, it’s been some week for the Bramall Lane club. With Derby and Middlesbrough to come next in the league after a home Carabao Cup tie against Premier League outfit Southampton, this month could be pinpointed as the catalyst for whatever lies ahead for Sheffield United.

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