Why Chris Wilder is backing struggling Rhian Brewster to prove he was worth Sheffield United’s millions

One who has become so dependable that when he finally retires he will be mentioned in the same breath as fan favourites like Tony Currie and Brian Deane, so steeped is he in Sheffield United folklore.

The other is a young man who cost the football club more money than any other player in their history, and yet is still searching for a first goal that would begin the process of paying them back.

Billy Sharp and Rhian Brewster were paired together in the only changes made by Chris Wilder for this FA Cup tie, a win that was not as close as the scoreline suggests but one that gives their season a flicker of hope amid the nightmare that is their inexorable slide out of the Premier League.

Sharp made the opening goal for Chris Basham and scored the second goal shortly after half-time, rounding Plymouth goalkeeper Michael Cooper after Oli Norwood’s sumptuous pass had dissected the defence.

Brewster, by contrast, stung the palms of Cooper with a rasping drive in the first half and then moments later was inches away from connecting with Stevens’ cutback.

When a chance arrived in the second half, Brewster shot straight at the keeper from 15 yards. It sums up the young man’s travails since his big money move from Liverpool in the summer.

While 34-year-old Sharp is United’s Mr Dependable, Brewster – 14 years his junior – is the epitome of United’s unfulfilled potential. He might yet come good in the Championship next season, but United didn’t pay £23m for him to score goals in the second tier.

After failing to make his goalscoring mark in fitful bursts of appearances in the Premier League, this was the perfect chance to make an impression against weaker opponents.

That he didn’t do so against Plymouth’s League One defence can hardly give Wilder much confidence to start him against the likes of Manchester United or Manchester City, the Blades’ next two opponents back in the Premier League this week.

But the possibility of what he could give United remains the one spark that could yet give them hope in the fight for survival.

“It’ll come, he’s a finisher,” said Wilder. “Everyone wants him to get off the mark.

“I thought his performance was good, his general play was good and we’re all rooting for him. It’ll come because he’s a good player.”

Asked if there was anything he could do to keep Brewster’s spirits up, Wilder responded: “He’s got to keep his own spirits up, that’s part and parcel of what the game’s about.

“We’ve got belief in him the players have got belief in him, they see him day in, day out, they see the type of player he is.

“To get that first goal will be a big moment for him and when he does I’m sure you’ll see the reaction from everyone.”

Relief, no doubt, similar to that felt in the 39th minute when they broke the deadlock against Plymouth.

It was just beginning to look like being another one of those days for United as Sharp twice, Brewster, Jayden Bogle and John Lundstram were all off target with good chances. Plymouth sat deep, inviting the Blades’ advanced wing-backs Bogle and Enda Stevens, and Norwood and John Fleck in the middle to pick them apart, but they themselves should have led only for Panutche Camara to blaze high and wide with the goal gaping.

United also had a penalty appeal turned down when Ethan Ampadu’s drive was blocked by the hands of Kelland Watts but neither Lee Mason nor the video assistant referee deemed it a foul.

So it was timely intervention when Basham strode forward to nod United in front, heading Sharp’s cross back across Collins after neat build-up play across the edge of the penalty area.

When Sharp raced onto Norwood’s incisive pass to double the lead the tie looked as good as dead. More confident teams than United would have killed Argyle off, and those fragile nerves were played on 15 minutes from time when Byron Moore cut the ball back and Camara fired home, the ball squirming under Aaron Ramsdale.

“Job done,” was Wilder’s assessment, of a third win in 15 days, having waited six months for one. “The competition we play our domestic football in is an incredibly tough one with the challenges we face each week, particularly this coming week, so any opportunity to win a game of football you’ll take and we’ve taken both those opportunities.

“A home draw in the fifth round is something to look forward to.”

A ray of sunshine at long last for the Blades. They just need Brewster to part the clouds with a few goals.

Sheffield United: Ramsdale, Basham, Egan, Ampadu, Bogle (Baldock 71), Lundstram, Norwood (Bryan 72), Fleck, Stevens, Brewster (McGoldrick 79), Sharp (Burke 79). Unused substitutes: Lowe, Jagielka, Foderingham, Rodwell, Ndiaye.

Plymouth Argyle: Cooper, Aimson, Opoku, Watts, Edwards, Camara (Nouble 88), Fornah (Reeves 59), Mayor, Grant, Jephcott (Moore 64), Hardie (Telford 64). Unused substitutes: Wootton, McCormick, Law, Pursall, Mitchell.

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive membiers-only offers. Click HERE to subscribe.