Dowell’s next stop will be in the top flight

KIERAN DOWELL is the magic loan star who could get Sheffield United in the Premier League after a 12-year wait.

United finished 11th in League One the season Dowell made his top-flight debut for Everton.

And just like the Blades, he is itching to be back there.

Toffees boss Marco Silva has doubts about Dowell but Bramall Lane boss Chris Wilder said: “We tried to get him in the summer when we lost David Brooks, then we got him in January.

“I felt we needed that little bit of magic, it kept running through my head. We’ve managed to find that.

“Kieran Dowell has been outstanding for us.

“When players come to us from Premier League clubs we make sure their attitude is right for our group.

“We did our homework on Dowell and he has cemented with the way he’s acted.”

After a loan period with Nottingham Forest last season, this loan could be Dowell’s last chance to prove himself.

Team-mate Marvin Johnson said: “You can see every day in training that he’s got Premier League quality.

“Bi l ly Sharp and David McGoldrick can’t always be the ones scoring.

“Kieran is the most advanced midfielder behind them and to get a third man in the box like that is good to see.”

Dowell’s 14th-minute winner was his first goal for United – and could hardly have been better timed to settle this clash between two Championship heavyweights.

Scouser Dowell said: “I’ve never scored a header before.”

It lifted United back to second place, two points behind Norwich.

“He scored nine for Forest last season, including against us, and that caught our attention,” added Wilder.

Defensively, United were totally sound, the first team to get away it from the Hawthorns this season in a Championship game without conceding a goal.

But the Baggies have got problems on their own patch. They have not won a league game there since Boxing Day and have the worst home record of the top seven clubs.

Manager Darren Moore admits: “It’s something we will have to look at.

“I can’t fault the effort of the players, but we might have to change it a bit tactically.”

Luckily for West Brom, they are outstanding away. Their 10 wins on the road is the best in the Championship but they have put pressure on themselves to come up with another one in Friday night’s big battle at Leeds.

WEST BROM: SHEFF UTD: