Aaron Ramsdale is yet to keep a clean sheet for Sheffield United since his return to the club ahead of this season.
The Blades re-signed Ramsdale in August for £18.5m (BBC Sport), three-and-a-half years after selling the goalkeeper to Bournemouth.
The 22-year-old arrived back at Bramall Lane with a tough task ahead of him – to fill the gloves of Dean Henderson.
Henderson had arguably been the club’s best player during the two years he spent on loan from Manchester United. During that time the Blades were promoted to the Premier League for the first time in 12 years and secured their highest finish since 1992.
Henderson kept more clean sheets than any other ‘keeper in the Championship during that promotion season of 2018/19. Last term, only the top three in the division conceded fewer than the South Yorkshire side.
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Ramsdale has so far been on the receiving end of four defeats. The 1-1 draw with Fulham on Sunday saw the Blades pick up their first point of 2020/21. They are 19th in the table.
Yet, rather than being a failure, has Ramsdale already shown himself to be a fine signing? Albeit a little under the radar?
Aaron Ramsdale has been great for Sheffield United
(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
“His performances so far have been pretty good, he’s not made any mistakes,” manager Chris Wilder said to Yorkshire Live about Ramsdale.
“From the goals going in there is more to that than just Aaron and how he has played.
“I feel a little bit sorry for him because the goals that have gone in, looking back he can’t do anything about. He’s made some key saves in those games as well.
“He will be taking it personally because that’s the person he is. But it’s early in his second stint in the football club and nothing changes from my point of view about my opinion of him as a boy, and a player.”
Ramsdale’s talent was seen at the weekend, as he made a fine save to stop a fierce Tom Cairney strike. If it wasn’t for the England Under-21 international, the Blades arguably would have lost again.
It’s not the first time Ramsdale has been on had as the last line of defence. He pulled off an equally impressive stop to deny Stuart Dallas in the 1-0 defeat to Leeds United.
Despite being in the relegation zone, only two teams have actually conceded fewer than the Blades so far this term. Ramsdale has played a key role in that.
He may not be on the same level as Henderson just yet, but the early signs are extremely encouraging.
