Sheffield United defender George Baldock watches the same video before every game. It features three different Premier League players.
Baldock has been a key figure for the Blades this season following their return to the top flight. He has played every minute of their league campaign to date.
During that time the 27-year-old has scored two goals – the winner at Norwich City and equaliser at Tottenham Hotspur – and provided three assists.
Yet prior to this term Baldock had no experience of top tier football. A youth product at MK Dons, the right-back had played in all divisions from the National League to the Championship.
He has taken every step up in his stride and earlier this year it was even reported Gareth Southgate was considering Baldock for an England call-up. It now looks more likely the full-back will play for Greece – whom it qualifies for via his grandfather – but his rise from non-league to potential international football remains impressive.
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Who has inspired George Baldock?
(Photo by Matt McNulty – Manchester City/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
Ahead of the 2019/20 campaign and United coming back into the Premier League for the first time in 12 years, Baldock wanted to make sure he was ready.
And he did that by studying three current top flight stars – one of which doesn’t even play in the same position as him.
“At the start of this season, I went to the room where the analysts are sat, knocked on the door and said; ‘listen can you show me some clips of certain players?'” Baldock told The Times.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold was one, Kyle Walker was one. I got other aspects about Kevin De Bruyne. It’s about an 11-minute video, with clips in there of me from the previous season. I watch it before every game. It helped massively.
“I look at those players with admiration. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s delivery is brilliant. Probably the best in the Premier League, him and De Bruyne. Kyle Walker, similar, the positions he takes up, the runs he makes, the overlapping runs, the way he comes narrow to get the ball, makes it unpredictable for the opposition.”
