Ex-Sheffield Wednesday regular Carlton Palmer tips Sheffield United player as "nightmare" opponent | OneFootball

Former England international Carlton Palmer has namechecked Sheffield United's Kieffer Moore as one player he would have had a hard time against

Pundit Carlton Palmer has namechecked Sheffield United's frontman Kieffer Moore as the one player who would have provided the most difficulty facing off against during his professional career.

Moore signed for the newly-relegated Championship promotion hopefuls from Bournemouth over the summer, in what proved to be an action-packed window of activity at Bramall Lane.

Chris Wilder was forced to contend with a significant squad exodus following the Blades' relegation from the Premier League, although he took action by bringing in a host of exciting arrivals to the club such as Harrison Burrows, Callum O'Hare, Michael Cooper, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and, of course, Moore himself.

The Wales international frontman arrived in South Yorkshire off the back of a productive loan spell with Ipswich Town, who he helped to promotion during the second half of the previous season by finding the back of the net on eight occasions.

Carlton Palmer's verdict on Sheffield United's Kieffer Moore

Palmer, who played as both a defensive midfielder and central defender for the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United, relished the physical side of the game.

During a glittering playing career which started in 1984, spanned more than 20 years and included 18 senior caps for England, officials were largely more lenient with awarding decisions and players better utilised their physical advantages as a result.

Palmer, of course, was renowned for exactly that, although he has named Moore as one player who would have given him serious difficulty - and with good reason.

"I was not the type of player who worried about who I played against, so I never thought who would be horrible to play against come the weekend," Palmer exclusively told Football League World.

"You always have difficult opponents and as a player, you want to get on the front foot and test yourself against better players, so I wasn't one of those that worried about it.

"In the present day game as a centre-back, one of the players that you look at having a battle with is Sheffield United's Kieffer Moore, he's a right handful.

"He's very, very good in the air, controls the ball well, backs into you, leans into you, forces you back against the edge of the box, you've got to be really on your game.

"He knows where the back of the net is, he's very strong and physical so you'd know you'd be in for a hard afternoon's work with him. You wouldn't want to get involved and get booked early doors, especially with him backing in and bringing other players into play.

"He's a very good player and this was a very good signing for Sheffield United, and it's proved to be that because he holds the ball up, he links up well, he's very strong in the air physically and going forward.

"So it would be hard work playing against Moore, but that's the challenge you have when you become a professional footballer. If you want to be the best then you have to come up against the best and you're going to sometimes come up against players who present difficult problems for you.

"As a centre-back, you have two types of strikers - some with pace and some who have the physical attributes that Moore does, which would make your afternoon a nightmare."

Kieffer Moore's start to the season at Sheffield United

Though a seasoned Championship hitman with more than one promotion on his record, Moore has endured a difficult spell infront of goal after dropping back down to the second-tier this summer.

The ex-Cardiff City and Wigan Athletic forward has not scored in more than a month, with four goalless outings following the Bramall Lane debut which was topped with a first-half strike against QPR on August 10.

Moore has been the subject of criticism from certain Sheffield United supporters, although the underlying numbers suggest that he will find himself back among the goals before long.

Only Josh Maja, who is the division's top scorer with six goals from as many games, has accumulated a superior xG [Expected goals] return than Moore's 3.0. In players like Burrows, O'Hare and Gus Hamer, United have no shortage of creativity in their squad and they are carving out plenty of chances, which you would expect Moore to capitalise upon in the near future.

His ground and aerial duel-winning qualities are once again proving to be a real outlet, though, and he is indeed every bit the handful that Palmer has labelled him as.

All things considered, Moore has made an impressive start to life in the Steel City despite lacking in the goals department, but with the attributes brought in by his all-roundness, you do have to pity almost any Championship defender tasked with the unenviable prospect of engaging in a physical battle with the 32-year-old.