Sheffield United player reveals reason for short summer break

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Football League World

·14 July 2021

Sheffield United player reveals reason for short summer break

Sheffield United left-back Rhys Norrington-Davies was called up to Rob Page’s 26-man Wales squad for Euro 2020, but the 22-year-old did not feature as Wales progressed to the Last 16 of the competition.

The Saudi-Arabian-born defender joined The Blades in 2017 but is yet to make a first-team appearance for the club.

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After enjoying loan spells with Barrow in the National League and Rochdale in League One, Norrington-Davies linked up with Nathan Jones at Luton Town, in what was supposed to be a season-long loan.

After an impressive start to life in Bedfordshire, the 22-year-old’s loan was cut short and he was then shipped off to Stoke City for the remainder of the campaign.

The left-back now returns to Sheffield United, despite being offered some more time away, and he will be hopeful of playing regular first-team football under Slavisa Jokanovic.

Speaking to The Star, the flying full-back revealed why he decided to return to training so imminently: “I had a little bit of time off, a week or so, and I felt I was in good shape physically and mentally. So I thought I’d come back in, and make an impression for the new manager.”

The verdict

Rhys Norrington-Davies has performed well at every stage of his progression thus far. From his Championship and international experience, he has become more defensively capable, whilst his ability to get forward has always been there.

He is a frighteningly quick full-back and his end-product to match, as was seen last season, netting once and grabbed a further three assists.

He also provides Enda Stevens with some much-needed competition. The 31-year-old was unable to provide the same level of attacking threat last season as he has in recent campaigns.

Perhaps the emergence of a young, attack-minded option at left wing-back could raise Stevens’ levels once more and give Jokanovic a selection headache come early August.