Success has been varied, it is fair to say, for the experienced crop of former Premier League stalwarts who left West Ham United when their contracts expired over the summer.
Vladimir Coufal has been a revelation in Germany as Hoffenheim step out from the shadows as potential Champions League dark horses. In stark contrast, Kurt Zouma’s Romania sojourn is becoming a nightmare.
Danny Ings, meanwhile, falls somewhere in between.
Nowhere near as impactful at Sheffield United as Coufal has been in Sinsheim. But, with the Blades climbing the table and fast under the returning Chris Wilder, a miserable, record-breaking-for-all-the-wrong-reasons start could yet be replaced by a belated play-off push. Such is the remarkably topsy-turvy nature of life in England’s second tier.
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West Ham United released the experienced poacher following only eleven Premier League starts in two-and-a-half years at the London Stadium. In that time, the £12 million signing from Aston Villa scored a grand total of four goals.
And after Ings went eleven matches without scoring at the beginning of his Sheffield United career in the division below, the cynics were probably justified in wondering if the 33-year-old marksman was on a one-way trip to an early retirement.
Former West Ham striker Danny Ings reacts after opening his Sheffield United account
A weight was lifted off the former Burnley and Southampton talisman’s shoulders in midweek. On his 12th appearance for Sheffield United, he rolled back the years and proved that while his body may be a little slower these days, his mind is as sharp as ever.
“It was a big relief,” Ings told The Star after he finally opened his account for the Steel City outfit with a tap-in during Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Norwich City. “I just felt like it probably wasn’t going to come again tonight. I’ve been so close in previous games with the two offside goals. And when this one hit the back of the net, it was just a feeling of: ‘Phew.’
“I actually apologised to the fans as well because there were a couple of chances that I should have probably put away in the first half!”
Former England striker admits his time at West Ham was ‘difficult’
Tight offside flags, head-in-hands misses, Ings may have wondered if his moment would ever come. Now, in classic centre-forward fashion, can he tap the ketchup bottle and let the goods flow?
Wilder can send Ryan Mason packing when the Blades take on West Brom at the Hawthorns on Friday night, with Ings determined to put that slow start behind him for good.
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“It’s been quite a tough road for me over the last couple of years, to be honest,” adds Ings, who often found himself behind both Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen in West Ham’s pecking order, starting only one league match in 2024/25.
“I’m just kind of trying to fight back to my old ways, and doing what I’ve been doing for such a long time. But sometimes it just takes a while to hit the ground running and I’m really delighted to get that goal. Hopefully I can build on that now.
“I’ve had to be patient. When I signed [for Sheffield United], I hadn’t had a pre-season and I pulled my hamstring in the first week I was here. But I feel like with the games, I’ve felt sharper and sharper.
“It’s just that last final bit that every striker knows about. It’s just that part. On a personal note, it has been a difficult road, but I’m really delighted to score. I feel like the fans, the lads and everybody, have had to be really patient this season.
“For such a big club, and off the back of last season, obviously the expectation is high. But when there is a turnover of players and staff and things like that, you do have to have a bit of patience.
“And I know it’s frustrating at times for the fans, but I think we’ve shown over time that we’re getting better and better.”
Sheffield United are 17th, but only eight points off Hull City in sixth.
A Stoke City side boasting Aaron Cresswell, Divin Mubama and also one-time West Ham prospect Sorba Thomas have slipped to eighth after three successive defeats.
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