Leeds United should have one Gus Hamer worry as Sheffield United clash looms | OneFootball

The Blades midfielder has been superb this season, and will be looking to inflict damage on the team that took interest in him during the summer.

Friday evening's Championship clash between Sheffield United and Leeds United will be one of the most hotly-contested affairs of the season, as both teams look to prove their promotion credentials.

The Blades are currently 2nd in the table, with only goal difference separating themselves and Sunderland at the summit of the second tier. Chris Wilder's side would be top of the league right now if it was not for a two-point deduction handed to them before a ball was even kicked, and they will be hoping to keep their unbeaten start to the campaign going by dealing a blow to a Yorkshire rival.

Leeds, on the other hand, know that a 3-0 victory will see them end Friday in 1st place, despite an inconsistent opening two months to the 2024/25 season. The Whites have failed to win five of their first nine matches, drawing four of those, and Daniel Farke will need to start turning those solitary points into three more often if his team are to win promotion.

Nevertheless, Elland Road is sure to play host to a captivating clash that could be decided by individual efforts, with one of Sheffield United's midfielders sure to make the occasion even more feisty than it already looks to be.

Gustavo Hamer could prove to be decisive against Leeds

A key reason behind the Blades' success this season has been Gustavo Hamer, with the 27-year-old already finding the back of the net four times in the Championship.

Many had expected him to perhaps be the dominant force in the league, but his quality in front of goal so far has perhaps even surprised him.

While he has taken the most shots in the entire league, his xG rate is relatively low at just 1.36, proving just how good his four goals have been, according to FotMob. Hamer has found the back of the net from inside the box just once, but he has only taken 10 of his 26 shots inside the penalty area.

His goals have accrued an xG of just 0.38, and he has caused major issues for goalkeepers up and down the division - including for two of the best in Derby County's Jacob Widell Zetterstrom and QPR's Paul Nardi.

The Sheffield United's ace free-kick against the Rams was near-perfect, and he left the 6ft 6in Zetterstrom sprawling with his curling effort that clipped the post before going in.

With Illan Meslier's confidence rocked by his game-defining mistake in the final minute of Leeds' 2-2 draw with Sunderland before the international break, Hamer could prove to be the Frenchman's worst nightmare with his zipping shots from distance sure to test him.

Hamer will be looking to add insult to injury to Leeds

While he has been a key figure for Sheffield United this season, that could have easily changed in the summer, with Leeds showing huge interest in Hamer throughout the transfer window.

The Whites had a £13 million bid rejected for the 27-year-old ahead of deadline day, as per Football Insider, and were forced to miss out on one of their biggest transfer targets, despite huge efforts to bring the midfielder to West Yorkshire.

It was reported that Leeds offered Joel Piroe in an exchange deal for Hamer, but this was later denied by the club.

With that saga now behind him, Hamer will be hoping to show the Whites what they have missed out on, and carry on proving to Sheffield United supporters why their team were so keen to keep hold of him.

A goal at Elland Road could be huge for not only the structure of the league, but also for Farke, who is still probably regretting his failure to bring Hamer to the club.