Ben Whiteman spent last season on-loan at Mansfield from his parent club Sheffield United.
A goal and a man of the match award, that was the way in which Ben Whiteman brought to an end his half-season loan at League Two side Mansfield. It was a fitting way to end his time at a club Whiteman is very grateful to for giving him his first taste of regular first team football, an opportunity he grasped with both hands, scoring seven goals in 23 outings. Not a bad record from midfield for a player who says he grew up idolising Manchester United legend Paul Scholes.
Whiteman in action for Sheffield United against Southend
“Becoming a man,” that’s how fitness coach Lee Taylor described the 20-year-old’s progress at the One Call Stadium. Certainly he impressed during his six months in League Two, enough to convince Chris Wilder that Whiteman is a player he ought to tie down at Bramall Lane, but not enough just yet to convince the highly-rated Blades boss that he ought to be involved in the first team fold.
“I think the manager wants me go out on-loan again next season,” Whiteman said, but re-assuring that he had no concerns about a second temporary spell away from the recently-promoted Blades. When asked about his parent clubs promotion to the Championship, Whiteman described it as “unbelievable”.
“Some teams falter at the end of the season, but the boys put together four wins [after winning promotion against Northampton] and reached 100 points to win the league.”
Sheffield United won the title in League One
Asked whether promotion dented his chances of breaking into the first team, the youngster paused, reflecting, “Well I don’t know at the moment, I’ve still got to impress either way.” Equally reluctant to be drawn on the Blades aspirations next season, Whiteman commented, “Anything is possible with the squad’s quality, we’ve just got to try and get as high as possible.” The midfielder was rather more sure of himself when asked about Sheffield Wednesday’s failings in the Championship play-off’s, stating that his teammates would “definitely” be looking forward to the Steel City derby next season.
Whiteman worked under Steve Evans at Mansfield
Whiteman spoke positively of Steve Evans, his staff, the players and everyone involved with Mansfield, but acknowledged that his chances of reuniting with the Stags was slim, with both manager and player preferring a League One loan.
“Even though I was only there six months, the club is close to me, but I think it’ll be League One.”
Manager Chris Wilder recently stated, “Ben did really well there. And that didn’t go unnoticed by us. We want to get him tied down and then get him out somewhere in League One. We think that would be great for his development.”
Whiteman in action for Sheffield United’s U-18’s in 2013
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