Exclusive:Mark McGuinness believes Sheffield United are still the right vehicle for his drive to Premier League
Mark McGuinness still believes Sheffield United are the right vehicle for his drive towards the Premier League.
Since he left Arsenal in 2021, a return to the top flight has been the goal for the towering centre-back.
He left the Gunners without a single Premier League outing on his CV and his moves over the years have been made with his top flight ambition in mind.
Sheffield United signed McGuinness from Luton Town on the final day of the last summer window, but have only recently been discussed as potential top-six gatecrashers.
It has not been plain-sailing for the 25-year-old in Blades colours, but he still believes he is in the right place.
Premier League ambition
"That's (reaching the Premier League) my goal, the ultimate goal,” he told The Yorkshire Post. “My last couple of moves have been aligned with that.
“That is something I'm still trying to push for. I believe this was the right move and still is the right move for me to get there.
“My drive will always be extremely high until I reach that goal. I take each season as it comes and you can never predict things. Otherwise, we'd all be in the Premier League. I believe this is the right pathway for me.”
Love for the Steel City
McGuinness has been an unused subsitute in each of Sheffield United’s last seven league games, having found himself behind Japhet Tanganga and Tyler Bindon in the pecking order.
However, there was no hint of bitterness as he spoke of his love for the Steel City. The move to Bramall Lane marked a return to South Yorkshire for McGuinness, who had a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday during his Cardiff City days.
"I love it up here,” he said. “I love the feel of it. It's a big football city and it feels great to back in here and part of it.
“I'm enjoying as much as I can away from it as well - trying to get out and about, visit the Peaks (Peak District) and restaurants and bits and bobs, trying to get involved in everything.
“It's important to try and get that connection with the city and not just view it as a pit stop for me. I like to get involved and soak as much as I can in."
Late push targeted
Sheffield United are eight points adrift of the Championship play-offs with 10 games left to play. The second tier has previously seen bigger twists but escaping mid-table obscurity will not be easy for Chris Wilder’s men.
"This is the Championship,” said McGuinness. “Anything can happen really, as proven this season when we started poorly.
“The fact we're talking about play-offs just shows how far you can come in a short period of time. The mood's good in the camp and we're all very much looking forward to the next games and the final push.
“It's always nice to be part of a squad that's building. You can feel it in training and every day. There's something special in the group and that's why I think it's important we keep this momentum going and try get a bit of consistency. With the group that we have, it would be disappointing not to do something.”
Ahead of the Steel City derby, Sheffield United sponsors, Midnite, unveiled a giant 4m sq chip butty to celebrate the beloved chip butty anthem that fans sing at the start of every home match.
As part of the campaign, Midnite has also donated hundreds of chip butties to local homeless shelters and food banks in the Sheffield area, with Sheffield United players Mark McGuinness and Jaïro Riedewald personally delivering a portion of the butties.