Why Sheffield United must take a risk and sign Scott Hogan on loan
EFL Championship outfit Sheffield United remain keen on securing the services of Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland striker Scott Hogan on a season-long loan. (h/t Birmingham Live)
The Blades have been monitoring 26-year-old forward all summer and manager Chris Wilder is still hoping to add him to his roster before the loan window shuts down at the end of the month.
After a disappointing start to the new season, Sheffield United have recovered, winning three consecutive league matches. However, concerns remain over their ageing front line since they haven’t been firing on all cylinders so far.
Captain Billy Sharp, 32, has shown signs of form, bagging two goals in three games but the same cannot be said about last season’s top scorer Leon Clarke. The 33-year-old has failed to open his goalscoring account for the new campaign and has looked a shadow of his former self.
New signing David McGoldrick, who arrived on a free transfer from Ipswich Town, has scored a solitary goal from the penalty spot but is yet to make a strong impression.
Considering how the Blades operate with two strikers at the top, manager Wilder must add further firepower to his strikeforce before the end of the window.
And Hogan could prove to be a decent addition at Bramall Lane. The 26-year-old joined Villa from Brentford in January 2017, following an excellent start to the 2016/17 campaign that had seen him bag 14 goals in 25 games for the Bees in the first half of the season. However, an injury early into his spell at Villa Park, helped him manage just a solitary goal in the second half.
The Irishman fared slightly better in the 2017/18 season, scoring 9 times and setting up two more in 42 appearances across all competitions. However, he failed to reproduce the form that he had shown with Brentford.
However, despite a difficult year, the 26-year-old remains a centre-forward with a good all-around game. In fact, he would prove to be an asset for the Blades, provided he gets a regular run of games.
At 5ft 11in, he may not be the tallest striker around but he makes up for it with his strength and physical presence. Great at holding up play and well-known for his intelligent movement off the ball, Hogan is a solid finisher with natural goalscoring instincts. He would add more depth and experience to the Blades’ attack.
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Considering he is just returning from another injury layoff and hasn’t exactly set the stage on fire with his goals lately, it would be somewhat of a risk. But, a risk worth taking for Wilder and Sheffield United.
