Kevin Nolan says Ravel Morrison moving to Sheffield United could be the “making of him.”
However, Nolan – who played alongside Morrison at West Ham United – added that the midfielder needs to have “grown up.”
The 26-year-old signed for the Blades on an initial one-year deal after impressing on trial. They become Morrison’s ninth club in a varied career to date.
Most recently the former England Under-21 international was at Ostersunds. He left the Swedish side this summer when his six-month contract expired.
A Manchester United academy product, Sir Alex Ferguson once described Morrison as having “as much natural talent as any youngster.”
Yet it didn’t work out at Old Trafford, with the midfield ace making three senior appearances before joining West Ham.
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“We put a lot of time into him but there are just some instances in that time when we were there that you just sigh in disbelief: ‘Where is he? Why isn’t he here?'” Nolan told BBC 5 Live’s Football Daily.
“He’s got that in him and that’s what he’s got to get out of, because people then start to get fed up with that. There is only so much you take.
“I’m hoping he has grown up now and this could be the chance that he really needs.
“He is at a club now under Chris Wilder which is playing that attacking (football), he knows one way and this could be the making of him – and I’m hoping it will.”
What now for Morrison at Sheffield United?
While with the Hammers there were loan spells at Birmingham City, QPR and Cardiff City. Morrison then left East London and joined Lazio.
He struggled for game time in Italy too, returning to the R’s and then Mexican outfit Atlas on loan before heading to Sweden.
Wilder has shown faith in Morrison, a player with a somewhat checkered past. The Blades boss has previously done this with the likes of Ched Evans and Gary Madine.
Now it remains to be seen whether Morrison can repay that and finally live up to his potential.