Colchester v Sheff Utd: Unfair to compare McGahey to Maguire, claims Collins

The youngster has excelled after stepping forward to replace Premier League-bound Harry Maguire in the summer.

The 18-year-old arrived in Sheffield from Blackpool in the summer and manager Nigel Clough seems to have unearthed a real defensive gem.

Comparisons with Maguire are all too easy, both accomplished defenders, composed on the ball, and showing huge potential.

But McGahey’s defensive partner, Neill Collins, hopes the teenager will be allowed to develop and believes comparisons with Maguire are unfair.

“He is doing very well,” said Collins. “It’s quite unfair because a lot of people are comparing Harrison to Harry.

“That’s inevitable, but I think they are very different types of players.

“As much as they have similar attributes, they have different mentalities, different temperament.

“Harrison is only 18 and is doing really well, he works really hard at his game. He has a good attitude but we can’t put too much pressure on him.

“He’s only 18, I have been there myself and I wasn’t playing at a club this size. I know how tough it is in his position. But he is doing exceptionally well and long may it continue.”

United travel to Colchester United, one of three successive away games for the Blades. They go to Swindon Town on Saturday, before a Capital One Cup tie at Leyton Orient next Tuesday.

But after knocking West Ham United out on the road last month, Collins is undaunted by three away games in eight days.

“We have generally done well away from home, maybe not so much last year,” he said. “Two games in a week is a chance to get into the top six.”

The Blades sit ninth in League One and Collins added: “You want to be up near the top as quick as you can, so Saturday was an important three points.

“You have got to be in the top six quickly in this league. You can’t afford to lose too many games. If we can get up there and start winning games, we will be a threat.

“We have to do that this season, there’s no question in my mind, with the amount of players we have brought in.

“Automatic promotion then has to be the aim, there’s no getting away from that.

“Our form last year from January was promotion form, there’s games I look back on and think there’s games we could have won which we drew.”

Last six: Colchester LLLLDW Sheffield United LWWDDW

Last time: Colchester 0 Sheffield United 1, February 25 2014, League One.

Referee: O Langford (West Midlands).