Sheffield United Prospect Finds Net in Pre-season Game; Eager to Make Statement This Season | OneFootball

Sheffield United kicked off their pre-season campaign in emphatic fashion with a 6-2 win over York City, marking a bright start to life under new manager Ruben Selles.

Blades Hit York City For Six in First Pre-season Test

Gustavo Hamer in action for Sheffield United against York City. (Image Credit: Sheffield United Football Club).

Selles, overseeing his first match since taking charge, watched his team start with real intensity and purpose. The Blades opened the scoring through Anel Ahmedhodzic, with the Bosnian defender nodding home from a corner.

Minutes later, United doubled their lead. Louie Marsh showed quick thinking to slip a clever ball in behind the York defence. Andre Brooks, making a strong claim for a regular starting role this season, timed his run to perfection and calmly slotted the ball into the far corner with his right foot.

Tom Cannon, deployed on the left wing, burst into space and picked out Tyrese Campbell with a composed cross, and the forward tucked it away to mark a 3-0 lead.

After the break, Ryan Oné made an immediate impression. The young Scotsman, operating from the left, cut inside with pace, then chopped back onto the outside and powered a left-footed strike past the goalkeeper at the near post to make it 4-0.

York City grabbed a goal through Alex Hunt’s stunning 25-yard free-kick, with the former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder drawing applause even from some of the United faithful.

Ryan Fallowfield added a second goal for the hosts to make it 4-2 just after the hour mark following a lapse of concentration from Kieffer Moore at the back post from a corner.

The potential comeback was short-lived though as Kieffer Moore was lurking in the box nodding in a pinpoint cross from Harrison Burrows down the left.

With a few minutes to go, Oné wrapped things up with his second of the night with a thunderous right-footed finish into the bottom corner after Ehije Success Ukaki did well to press his man into a mistake.

Andre Brooks on Life Under Selles And His Journey at Sheffield United So Far

Ruben Selles instructing Sheffield United players in training session. (Image Credit: Sheffield United Football Club – X.com).

Speaking after the game, goalscorer Andre Brooks shared his thoughts on the team’s performance and the early days under Ruben Selles.

“It was a bit of a blow [indicating the tough grind of a pre-season game], but it’s always good to get out and get the first game under our belts,” said Brooks to SUTV. “Ans now we’re looking forward to the next set of games.”

Brooks also spoke of Selles’ coaching ideas so far: “The gaffer has told us what he wants us to do and what he likes on and off the pitch. We take everything on board, and then put it onto the pitch.”

With Selles being known for high energy teams that love to press from the front, someone as athletically gifted as Brooks could thrive in such a team, and he mentioned this in his interview. “I like to run around a little bit and get stuck in, and the manager has told us he really likes that,” he said.

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Brooks is keen to make his mark:

“For me personally, I just need to get consistent game time and try to nail down that spot [on the right wing] and make it my spot for me to lose, and just get as many games as I can. I feel like I can do a job anywhere the gaffer wants me to play and just give it my all to help the team.”

Reflecting on his time with the club, Brooks described his journey as “a bit of a weird one,” having made his breakthrough during the 2023/24 Premier League campaign:

“I think it’s been a bit of a weird journey for me. I came into the team when we were in the Premier League. I had nothing to lose really. I came into the team, did well. I was in and out of the team. Then last season, I didn’t really get that run of games that I wanted, but I carried on training hard and when my time came I just took it.”

The 21-year-old made 22 appearances (ten starts) in the Championship last term, scoring three goals and serving up a couple of assists, and he’ll hope to improve on those numbers this time around under the new regime.