Sheffield United: Hard work could yet see Rhian Brewster break his goal wait

The travails on the goalscoring front for Sheffield United’s club record £23.5m buy are such that he was utilised in his first Championship start since September 18 on the right wing in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest.

Yet to score a league goal for United, the ex-Liverpool striker fired his sole opportunity late on at home goalkeeper Brice Samba – in front of the 1,972 Blades contingent in the Bridgford Stand – and it was hard not to feel for him.

It was a night when Brewster’s work-rate, energy and attitude could not be faulted – he was in the thick of the celebrations when Morgan Gibbs-White put United in front – but you sense everyone is collectively willing him on for his own personal moment of glory.

Words of encouragement arrived afterwards from Slavisa Jokanovic and should Brewster score an important goal in the coming games, then there would be no more popular scorer among Unitedites as well.

Despite his goal famine, it is worth remembering that the forward is still learning the game at 21 and the Blades manager is not about to knock him down further.

On starting him against Forest, he said: “We considered that playing against this team, we can find some space on the right where the full-backs don’t defend and exploit this.

“My choice was for Rhian in not exactly his natural position.

“But he made the new job and had some situations to score and is working hard and it is encouraging for us and himself and he can be useful for us.”

Another player who returned to the fold for his first league start in a good while was Chris Basham, with the stalwart defender producing a typically solid and committed performance at the City Ground.

The Geordie, who made the starting XI at Championship level for the first time since the end of August, played as if he had never been away in truth and deputised expertly for the injured Ben Davies, with his performance not lost upon Jokanovic.

The Serb commented: “Bash is a guy with a guarantee.

“He was quick, solid and comfortable on the ball and made some important interceptions and he did a good game for the team.”