"Absolute genius" - Sheffield United lauded for Chris Wilder capture in 2018 | OneFootball

David McGoldrick has been praised as the player that exceeded Blades fans' expectations the most, given the little fanfare when he joined

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

David McGoldrick has been hailed as one of Sheffield United's most surprisingly effective signings in recent times, for his spell at the club between 2018 and 2022.

McGoldrick joined the Blades as a free agent to add to Chris Wilder's striker depth, after undergoing a successful one-week trial period in the summer of 2018 following his Ipswich Town departure at the end of the previous season.

The then-30-year-old had a decent scoring record with the Tractor Boys in the Championship and Coventry City in the third-tier prior to his Bramall Lane move, yet nobody could have predicted the sort of impact he had on United's fortunes over the next four years in South Yorkshire.

McGoldrick was a key part of the Blades' promotion to the Premier League in his first campaign at the club, and was one of their more regular top-flight scorers as he picked up numerous individual awards across different seasons before he eventually moved on over two years ago.

Sheffield United lauded for smart David McGoldrick deal

McGoldrick's addition was hardly a risk, given that no fee was paid and his wages would have been affordable, but it was somewhat of a gamble by boss Wilder, after he had hit double figures for goals just once in his previous nine seasons in the Championship.

It turned out to be a stroke of genius by the experienced boss, and he was named as the club's Player of the Year as his 15 goals in 44 appearances helped to secure promotion out of the Championship in his first season, then bagged 10 times across two seasons in the Premier League and won the Players' Player of the Year award for 2020/21.

Affectionately known as 'Didzy' to fans and teammates alike, FLW's Sheffield United fan pundit Jimmy, of The Blades Ramble YouTube channel, identified the 14-time Republic of Ireland international when we asked him for a player that turned out to be a great signing, despite joining United with little hype.

“I could give loads of answers for this question. Pick anybody from Chris Wilder’s 100-point League 1 team that included Jack O’Connell for less than £500k, or Mark Duffy who came in for free," Jimmy told FLW.

“We later signed Enda Stevens for free, George Baldock for free, John Fleck the same. Some absolutely phenomenal signings.

“The one I think that stands out in terms of initial low expectations was David McGoldrick.

“He came in on trial initially, and I’m pretty sure he scored against Inter Milan in a pre-season friendly and did not look back from there.

“Absolute genius with the ball at his feet, but you could name anybody.

“I’m hoping that, in a couple of years’ time, I'll be answering this question including names like Michael Cooper and Harrison Burrows, because I can also see that becoming a reality.”

McGoldrick has fond memories of his time at Bramall Lane

McGoldrick's career is still thriving to this day as he is now back at Notts County, where he graduated through the academy to make his professional debut back in 2004, after a successful spell with Derby County in 2022/23 in which he netted 22 goals in League One.

Regardless of where his career goes next, he will always be a cult hero to Blades fans, and he explained a little about his time at the club in an interview with Sheff United Way on YouTube last summer.

He said: “I jumped at the chance (to go on trial). I knew how big the club was, and I backed myself to go in there. I knew I wouldn’t be the fans’ first pick, but sometimes things work out differently.

“The boys had finished ninth in the season before, so obviously there was confidence around the place that we could do a little bit better. I think it was at the halfway point of the season when we actually thought, ‘Oh, maybe we’re onto something here.’

McGoldrick went through somewhat of a tough patch in front of goal in the top-flight, despite the Blades sitting comfortably in mid-table, and even higher in points, but he finally netted the first Premier League goal of his career at 32-years-old in July 2020 against Chelsea.

He said: “The boys were flying in the Premier League, everyone was chipping in with goals. Of course I wanted to score, but the longer it went on, the worse it was getting. When I did score against Chelsea, it was bittersweet because there were no fans there.

“I took it upon myself to score goals (in the second season). It wasn’t to be in terms of points and where we ended up, but I can look back and say I held my own in the Premier League.”

He may not have been the most prolific or skillful striker throughout his time in football, but McGoldrick has forged a top career in the EFL over the last twenty years, and he certainly owes a lot to both Chris Wilder and Sheffield United for his time at the club, as do they to him, after his successful four-year spell in South Yorkshire.