Sheffield United 2 Brentford 0: McDonald loving it as he starts to rebuild with Wilson’s Blades

From Premier League to out of work, the harsh reality of a life for a professional footballer has hit home for the young Scot.

There was never any doubt, however, that the one-time £500,000 Burnley signing from Dundee would be lost to the game despite his reaction to being substituted at half-time with his side 5-0 down in a Premier League encounter with Manchester City.

McDonald headed straight for the pub only to be sent back with a flea in his ear by his father who just happened to be in the same hostlery.

That 6-1 defeat marked the end of his time at Turf Moor and he was released after an 11-game loan spell at Notts County.

Several League One clubs made overtures for the midfield orchestrator and he even trained with Doncaster Rovers but, after an influential debut for the Blades, the Carnoustie-born 22-year-old said it had been an easy decision to join the Bramall Lane club initially on a one-year deal.

“It was good to just get out there,” said McDonald who brought invention to central midfield as he replaced the unfortunate Michael Doyle. “The last time I played was a couple of months before the end of last season when I got injured at Notts County so it’s been a while.

“I get on so well with the boys and the manager was so keen to take me on so that was a big positive behind my decision.

“It was an easy decision in the end. This is a Premiership club if anything with the set-up here. The stadium is great and so are the fans so it was a no-brainer really.

“I like to get the ball down and pass it but there are times to do the dirty work. All the players are technically good and they all work for each other so there is a great chance for us to go back up to the Championship straight away and that’s exactly what we want to do throughout the club.”

Manager Danny Wilson, afforded a warm reception from the fans despite a past including being manager of the Owls, was indebted to chairman Kevin McCabe for loosening the tight financial purse strings to recruit the Scot.

“He’s been very patient and that shows his loyalty. He could play for lots of teams but he fancied coming to us. He wanted to get his career back on track and decided there was no better place to do it,” said Wilson. “You have to thank him because he could have walked away quite easily because he’s had no money coming in for a long period. He is an orchestrator. That’s exactly what we want him to do – gauge the tempo of the game and dictate it. He can do it. He has a good array of passing but is not overly aggressive for a 6ft 4in lad – we might get a bit more out of him as we go along.”

As the Blades plot an immediate return to the Championship, Wilson stressed it was important for those not yet figuring in the starting line-up to not get too frustrated.

Regarding the omission of Doyle – a key figure alongside captain Nick Montgomery in the opening day win at Oldham – he said: “I had a sit and talk with Doyley and he is gutted but there are only 11 places and the club is bigger than all of us. We are trying to create a team bonding and I’m sure that Doyley will turn round and wish Kevin all the best because the big picture is that we want success and Doyley will play a major part this season.”

With two other new signings, Ryan Flynn and Chris Porter unfit, Wilson gave a home debut to Wolves winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and a call-up to FA Youth Cup final striker Jordan Slew, who celebrated with the 49th-minute opener.

Stephen Quinn whipped in a cross from the left, Richard Cresswell expertly shielded possession and laid it back for the youngster to hit a curling shot which took a deflection into the net.

It came around the same time as the opener at Boundary Park and, as in that encounter, Cresswell wrapped up the points, this time in the 70th minute as he converted a low drive from Matt Lowton at the far post.

Wilson enthused: “That’s what breeds confidence in the strikers. They can have the best game in the world, they can be a creative for other people to score but they don’t feel half as good as when they score themselves.”

Promotion is Wilson’s priority but he will not be treating the JP Trophy lightly, having seen the Blades drawn at Burton Albion.

“It is high on my list. It’s another competition and another game you want to win – going to Burton will be no easy game but by the time we get there I’m hoping our confidence will be high with a few more wins under our belt and hoping we will have knocked Everton out of the Carling Cup as well – I can dream can’t I?”

The first task, however, is the visit of Walsall tomorrow night when both Flynn and Porter hope to be in contention. “They will have a fight to get in the side and that’s great from my point of view,” added Wilson. “All the players are here for a reason – because they are good players and they will be frustrated when they are not playing but nobody is guaranteed anything and if the team continues to grow and win that’s all I can ask.”

Sheffield United: Simonsen, Lowton, Maguire, Collins, Jean-Francois; Mendez-Laing (Williamson 67), McDonald, Montgomery, Quinn; Cresswell, Slew (Bogdanovic 67). Unused substitutes: Doyle, Tonne, Long.

Brentford: Lee, Logan, Legge, Osborne, Woodman; Weston, Douglas, Reeves, McGinn (Saunders 46); Alexander (O’Connor 78), Donaldson (MacDonald 46). Unused substitutes: Eger, Moore.

Referee: D Webb (Co Durham).