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Sheffield United: Keith Gillespie Says Rhian Brewster a Scapegoat for Season

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Image for Sheffield United: Keith Gillespie Says Rhian Brewster a Scapegoat for Season

Keith Gillespie has issued a sympathetic defence of Rhian Brewster following an abysmal, barren run with Sheffield United this season.

The promising home-grown striker, who has spent time developing with the academies of Chelsea and then Liverpool, enjoyed a breakout season with Swansea in the second half on the 2019/20 Championship season.

His 10 goals helped to thrust the Swans up the table and into a play-off spot, but his career has gone awry since.

Brewster has definitively failed to have the same integral role for the Blades this season following his £23.5 million move to Bramall Lane.

Rooted to the bottom of the table, the Blades look destined for the drop – a likelihood helped on through Brewster’s failure to register a single goal or assist in the league this season.

However, Gillespie was keen to defend Brewster as almost a scapegoat for a wider failure of the team.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Gillespie said of Brewster: “You do feel sorry for him, when you come as a goalscorer, you’re paid to score goals.

“If you don’t do that, you’re deemed a flop. I wouldn’t call him a flop because Sheffield United haven’t performed this season.

“If you’re the marksman, and you’re not getting the service that maybe he was getting at Swansea, playing in the Championship, you’re not going to be scoring goals.”

Brewster has endured a baptism of fire in the league in an indication that the jump from the Championship to the Premier League is a sizeable one.

The young hitman has been in and out of the team following his run without a goal (starting in under 40% of games) and looks to have lost the trust of the club.

With 22 league appearances, it is hard not to agree that he has been offered ample opportunities to make a difference for his team.

In other news: Pundit urges Blades not to appoint young manager; was a serial winner 

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