Sheffield United: Baptiste's audition impresses Blades boss Adkins

SHEFFIELD UNITED manager Nigel Adkins admits he would love to bring Alex Baptiste back to Bramall Lane once his loan spell ends '“ if the opportunity arises.
Alex John-Baptiste of Sheffield United and manager Nigel Adkins. (Picture: Sport Image)Alex John-Baptiste of Sheffield United and manager Nigel Adkins. (Picture: Sport Image)
Alex John-Baptiste of Sheffield United and manager Nigel Adkins. (Picture: Sport Image)

The experienced Middlesbrough defender is enjoying a rehabilitative stint with the Blades after suffering a horror double leg fracture in his first outing for Boro in pre-season in July – having yet to make his first-team debut for the Teessiders.

Baptiste joined United on loan for the season on March 1 and has impressed all and sundry with a string of polished performances.

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The 30-year-old will return to Teesside once his commitments with the Blades end, and has another two years on his Riverside deal, having joined from Bolton Wanderers last summer.

On whether he would be interested in re-signing Baptiste if the chance was there, Adkins said: “If there is an opportunity then, yes, definitely. Without a shadow of a doubt.

“But we are not in that situation at the moment. We are delighted to have him here and we are delighted to be helping him.

“Alex has been good, very good. He’s fitted in ever so well. He can play in a few different positions, that is the type of player we are trying to get here.

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“But he’s a Middlesbrough player, we have to remember, with a few years on his contract.

“From our point of view, he’s here and he’s playing football.

“They might recall him if they end up in the play-offs and we don’t.

“Then we’ve got a a different situation if they get promoted, so who knows?

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“We will see where it goes in the future but, at the moment, all we are focusing on is the here and the now.”

Tomorrow’s high-profile game is the Blades’ biggest on home soil since beating Bradford City 3-1 in their Christmas fixture at Bramall Lane, and Adkins would dearly love a re-run as his side seek to gatecrash the top six in the final few weeks of the 
season.

He added: “Bradford was a great atmosphere and we performed well.

“There’s a spirit and I’m excited about us moving forward. I am seeing that.

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“How many good under-21 players have we got for next season for example?

“We are making sure the model is right.

“I’m excited by it and we want to do it now. But we are building and moving in the right direction.”