Youthful exuberance shows the way down at the Lane

The Dubliner, 22, capped his first start for the club with a stunning goal on Saturday past Bristol City’s former England international goalkeeper David James.

But McAllister, who joined the Blades in the New Year transfer window from League of Ireland club St Patrick, is unsure whether he will stay in the side for this afternoon’s trip to Reading.

“It was definitely a dream debut,” he said. “And I would like to be involved again on Monday but the manager might change things around to bring in some fresh legs.

“I ran the game through my head about 100 times on Friday night because I thought I might be playing but I never imagined it would turn out like that.

“I was not officially told until Saturday morning but the manager takes 11 players to do set-pieces the day before the game and, when he called my name out, it was a bit of a shock.”

McAllister had made only one previous appearance for the first team, as a substitute in the FA Cup third round defeat by Aston Villa.

“I have kept my head down because the atmosphere has not been the best, with the results we have been having, and it’s paid off for me,” he said. “I have been doing my stuff in the reserves and I need to thank the coaches Mark Smith and Lee McMahon who have been great for my development.”

McAllister was a shock choice in the centre of the Blades midfield against Bristol with Michael Doyle, one of manager Micky Adams’s major signings, dropping to the bench.

He was the latest in a growing list of ‘development’ players to be thrust onto the first-team stage in recent weeks.

Striker Jordan Slew and defender Harry Maguire, both 18, were also in the starting line-up against Bristol while striker Danny Philliskirk, 20, came off the bench.

“There have been a few lows this season and I think that bit of youth coming in has been a big help in the last few games,” he said.

“We are not doing the best and relegation is around the corner unless we get a miracle so the pressure has been lifted in some sense.

“From my own point of view, I think I thrive under a bit of pressure,” he added.

McAllister revealed that his promotion to the side had upset plans for a Friday night in with his girlfriend and her parents.

“They came over for the weekend but we booked it a few weeks ago when I was not really getting a look in,” he said. “We were doing a bit of entertaining but they knew I might be starting this game so I had to go to bed early! It was good timing in the end.”

He admitted that it has been a big step up from League of Ireland to Championship level but is hoping to progress with the club next season.

“If we go down, it could be a case of one step back to take two forward for me. Time will tell.”

Asked if relegation was unavoidable, he said: “Until it is mathematically impossible, we are not going to give it up.”

Bristol manager Keith Millen was disappointed with his side’s overall performance but felt either side could have snatched victory before the end.

“I was not happy with our lack of energy in the first half,” he said. “That’s why I made three substitutions at half time because I was not going to stand for it.

“It could have gone either way at the end. They attacked, we attacked, and whichever team could take their chance was going to win.”