Preston North End v Sheffield United: Blades rookie Maguire tipped for bright future

Maguire, 18, stepped up from the club’s youth team to make his first-team debut for the Blades as a midweek substitute against Middlesbrough.

With manager Micky Adams looking to employ youth again today, centre-back Maguire could start as the Blades travel to Preston North End in desperate need of points to avoid the drop.

Blades defender Neill Collins, who played alongside Maguire in midweek, thinks the teenager now has a great opportunity to launch a career as a professional footballer.

“It is a hard time for us right now so for a young lad to come in and play is not easy,” he said. “But everyone could see that he did everything asked of him. He was really dominant, big and strong. He is in a great position because he is at a club where they have a history of putting youngsters into the first team. If he does adapt well, it’s up to him how far he goes.”

Over the last few years, the Blades have introduced youngsters including Kyle Walker and Kyle Naughton, who are both now playing in the Premier League.

However, Collins has also stressed there are no guarantees at this stage.

“You just don’t know how good players can be at that age. There are a lot of trappings of success and he still has a lot of growing up to do. The biggest thing you need is a good attitude but Harry seems to have that.

“If you have a good attitude towards training, stay in on a Saturday night and prepare right, that can make the difference between players who have the same ability.”

The Blades are eight points adrift of safety at the bottom of the Championship while Preston are next to bottom and one point better off.

“I have been in football long enough to know that our chances of staying up now are slim,” said Collins, who spent six months with Preston before moving to Leeds United last season. “It will be tough but it’s still possible. It would be nice to go there and win and see if other things can take care of themselves.

“Nothing is going to hurt more than if we get relegated,” he added.

“But whatever happens, we are playing for the pride of the club and I don’t need any more motivation than that.”