Sheffield United may not have the best defence in League One but they’ve certainly got one of the best defenders, and how his parent club Wolves could do with him right now.
With individual defensive errors holding the side back throughout the season, it’s somewhat ironic that Wolves’ most in-form defender is plying his trade elsewhere right now.
23-year-old centre-half Ethan Ebanks-Landell was farmed out on a season-long loan to Sheffield United on transfer deadline day in the summer after a broken metatarsal brought a premature end to his breakthrough season at Molineux.
Just a few months later, however, it’s testament to his development with League One’s fallen giants that speculation has intensified of a potential return to the Midlands in the New Year. A fans favourite among Blades supporters due to his rather canny knack of netting crucial goals, 4 in 15 league games to be precise, Ebanks-Landell has slotted supremely into Chris Wilder’s back three.
Needless to say, he could prove very useful to a Wolves defence beset by unnecessary mistakes throughout the campaign, their recent 2-0 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday a case in point. Captain Danny Batth is yet to find consistent form while manager Paul Lambert publically lamented the inexperience of the other defenders at his disposal, namely 21-year-old duo Kourtney Hause and Dominic Iorfa.
Manchester United loanee Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, meanwhile, is yet to feature under Lambert with reports suggesting a premature return to Old Trafford is on the cards.
Therefore, this could open up a space in Wolves’ backline for Ebanks-Landell who, although lacking in experience, more than makes up for it with maturity, versatility and the odd thumping finish.
A fortnight ago, the athletic centre-back told the Sheffield Star that he was more than happy to keep honing his craft at Bramall Lane for the foreseeable future and was yet to speak to any Molineux delegates about his future.
Yet, with Wolves’ defensive issues showing few signs of improving, that may soon change, if it hasn’t already.
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