Sheffield United manager, Paul Heckingbottom, has spoken about Reda Khadra in his pre-QPR press conference and hinted he could start again.
Khadra was a surprise inclusion in the XI on Saturday against Birmingham as he started in an unfamiliar left wing-back position. A host of injuries have forced Heckingbottom into changes he’d not normally make, with Khadra the latest to be asked to fill in.
On the day, Khadra did ok enough as United drew 1-1. But while the German starlet won’t want to play their permanently given his qualities in the final third, Heckingbottom was full of praise for his man and admitted he’d already spoken to him ahead of QPR tonight.
“I’ve already spoken to him this morning (yesterday),” Heckingbottom told SUTV.
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“Listen he deserves credit for doing it for the team. It’s not is natural position but we did do it because we were at home and we were happy to let Jordan Graham get the other side of him a few times. But we wanted Reda to play in a position he’s a bit more familiar with higher up the pitch. He performed the role for the team but I’ve just tried to encourage him to be a bit more positive higher up the pitch, we don’t want him playing in there as a left-back.”
Hecky’s comments suggest he could be prepared to play Khadra in the same role tonight against QPR. Jayden Bogle is also pushing to start, but the United boss could hold the former Derby man back for now.
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A lot could depend on how Heckingbottom sees QPR’s threat from the wide positions. If he feels they’ll be pushing United back, then Khadra might be sacrificed for someone a bit more defensive minded.
However, Khadra perhaps deserves that second go given it’s only three days since he got that start. Another home game is a chance for the ‘powerful‘ German to show his talents.
Certainly, Blades fans won’t be averse to seeing Khadra get another go in what promises to be another tough night at Bramall Lane for United.
