Sheffield United legend Billy Sharp is continuing to defy the odds at Bramall Lane.
Billy Sharp of Sheffield United (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
The 33-year-old striker is still commanding a place in the match-day squad for United. A goal on the opening day of the season was the fitting start to Premier League life for Chris Wilder’s men.
Sharp is in his third spell with the club. He returned to Bramall Lane in 2015, when then manager Nigel Adkins signed him (BBC). But it is under Chris Wilder where Sharp has really excelled.
The Blades skipper fired over 20 goals last season to get United out of the Championship. In League One, he hit 30 as United racked up 100 points and the title.
Billy Sharp fired Sheffield United to Championship promotion (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
This weekend saw Sharp enter the fray for United in a comfortable 3-0 home win over Burnley. He will have been disappointed to miss a good chance, while John Lundstram also failed to score from a fine through-ball from Sharp.
However, that hasn’t distracted from the fact it was Sharp’s 250th appearance in the red and white. The United skipper himself took to Instagram to share his delight at reaching the milestone.
A club legend
Sharp is already a club legend. This third spell has been, by far, his most productive in a Blades shirt.
The goals have flowed and under the leadership of Wilder and Alan Knill, he looks fitter than ever. He knows his place in the team. No longer is he guaranteed to start. Coming off the bench and being there when needed is a role he embraces and accepts at the club.
Billy Sharp celebrates at West Ham (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
The United fans, too, seem to be delighted with Sharp. Many of them took the time to comment on Sharp’s Instagram post, with some calling for the club to build a statue of the forward…
conormaccaa – “Get that statue knocked up in’t car park”
tom.lemons – “Order statue of this picture now. If it wasn’t for Billy we’d be nowhere near where we are now”
Some just simply wanted to congratulate and thank the skipper, including golfing star, Matt Fitzpatrick…
mattfitz94 – “Legend 💪🏼”
damosaurus – “Absolute hero”
josh__1889 – “Living legend ⚔️⚔️”
jjorge.r – “Hero ❤️🖤⚔️”
It’s safe to say that Billy Sharp will go down as an all-time great at Sheffield United.
