No surprise on this one, but the Blades have officially announced that Mason Holgate will join them on loan for the rest of the season.

This departure has actually worried me more than Charly Alcatraz leaving for Juventus, whereas we have a lot of attacking options still at the club. we are rather short on defensive cover.

In the main although some Saints fans will disagree, in the 5 League games he played Holgate was no worse than those around him, in the defeats at Sunderland & Middlesbrough and did well in the short time he played in the win at Stoke and ok in the draw at Preston and also when he was man of the match against West Brom.

But for me he offered good quality experienced back up not only in the centre of defence but also at full back.

Now we have no are down to Jack Stephens as cover for Jan Bednarek & Taylor Harwood-Bellis, with just Shea Charles or the currently injured James Bree offering cover.

Likewise at full back, with Bree injured there is no real options should either Kyle Walker Peters of Ryan Manning be unavailable other than playing Jack Stephens.

Personally I think we have mismanaged the situation here.

Photo: Action Images

highfield49 added 23:08 - Feb 1 The problem being of course that Holgate wasn't getting any game time when he was arguably, very arguably, a better player than Jack Stephens. I agree, without doubt, the situation was mismanaged because Holgate had no incentive to stay at the club. Thankfully he will now be playing at Sheffield rather than at Leeds who were also rumoured to be seeking his talents. We certainly shot ourselves in the foot but thankfully avoided further damage following his decision not to sign for a major competitor in our push for promotion.

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sandywelsh added 09:27 - Feb 2 It would have been a lot better to let Jack Stephens go rather Holgate. At least Holgate was more mobile and had a football brain.
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Block8 added 09:34 - Feb 2 He will get the chance to prove his ability with Sheffield Utd, without doubt. But was never going to break up Bednarek & Harwood-Bellis partnership. Larios is nearly back to full fitness and Meghoma looks a pretty decent full back? Agree that we are maybe a bit short in the middle of defence but have to trust RM knows what he is doing!
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