"Really surprised" - Sheffield United confusion arises over lack of January exit for striker | OneFootball

Ryan One looked set to move away from Bramall Lane on loan, but he remains with the Blades.

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...

Sheffield United dropped out of the automatic promotion places on Tuesday evening as Burnley picked up a vital 1-0 victory over Oxford United at Turf Moor in another tightly-contested match involving the Clarets.

The Blades do have a game in hand now on Scott Parker's team, and they know that a win over struggling Portsmouth on Saturday will see them return to the top two, with a three-point gap over the Lancashire outfit.

The battle for promotion to the Premier League is incredibly close, and has been throughout the season, but an excellent January transfer window for Chris Wilder has potentially given his side an upper-hand over Burnley and Sunderland ahead of the run-in.

Deadline day moves for Christian Nwachuckwu, Jefferson Caceres and Rob Holding have only strengthened Sheffield United's squad. However, there may be a surprise to see one young prospect stay at Bramall Lane, with a loan away for the rest of the campaign perhaps a more sensible choice.

Verdict made on Ryan Oné staying at Sheffield United

The Blades were able to keep hold of their key players during the transfer window, and this will only benefit them as the battle for the top two heats up.

Few supporters would have foreseen such a successful first part of the season back in the summer after takeover issues and a two-point deduction all while the club fought back from a tumultuous 2023/24 campaign.

However, the South Yorkshire side have been fantastic, and they have only strengthened. Nevertheless, Football League World has asked their Sheffield United Fan Pundit, Jimmy from Blades Ramble, which player he is surprised to have seen stay with the club during January.

He told FLW: "The one player I’m surprised didn't leave in January is Ryan Oné.

"I didn’t think we were ever in danger of losing any of our key men in the window because it would not bode well for the new ownership. So, I was always confident that we’d keep our main actors, as Chris Wilder likes to call them.

"The surprising thing for me about the outgoings was that Oné didn't leave on loan. He is a fantastic prospect of a player, but he's now fifth in the pecking order for strikers, and we only play one up top."

Jimmy continued: "We've got Tom Cannon who's come in as the marquee signing, which obviously pushes him further down the pecking order. But behind Cannon, there's Tyrese Campbell nipping at his heels, then Kieffer Moore’s coming back from injury and Rhian Brewster’s on the books as well.

"So, Oné will not get a look in. I'm really surprised that he's not gone out on loan."

Ryan Oné's game-time at Sheffield United is set to be extremely sparse

While Oné is an incredible talent, there are better players than him at the club right now, and their experience will be crucial in the battle for promotion.

He has not featured in the Championship since his side's 2-1 win over Watford FC on 4 January, and this lack of opportunity will be felt more now Cannon has arrived at the club.

The former Leicester City striker has quickly become Wilder's first-choice striker, and it will be near-impossible for any of Sheffield United's other options to displace him in the starting XI before the end of the season.

Oné has a bright future, but a loan away from Bramall Lane in January would have been sensible for both parties, and he will more than likely now spend the rest of the campaign watching on from the sidelines.