Meet Blades player who has point to prove against Newcastle

WHEN Sheffield United and Newcastle line up against each other this evening, things could have been quite a bit different for Blades defender Chris Basham (pictured right).

The 32-year-old was one of the stars of a Sheffield United side that proved to be the Premier League’s surprise package last season, as they finished their first season back in the top flight for 13 years in ninth place.

But his journey to the Premier

League almost ended as a 16-year-old when he was not offered scholarship terms by Newcastle and was released by the club.

The boyhood Sunderland fan was ‘hurt’ by the rejection and ended up working in McDonald’s while he studied at college.

He was signed by Bolton Wanderers not long after and also enjoyed a spell in the Premier League with Blackpool before joining Sheffield United in 2014.

The driving force behind his career revival has been the desire to prove Newcastle wrong and when the Magpies travel to Bramall Lane this evening, it will provide Basham with his latest opportunity to do just that.

“Obviously you want to prove it to them in a good way because this is a kid they released,” Basham told Sky Sports last year.

“It’s hard when you’re 16, you get released and your dad is reading a letter saying: ‘you’re done at Newcastle now son’. It was tough to take...

“I went to McDonald’s and worked there but it is all about an experience. To go from serving fast food, it’s a big turn around and a dream come true playing in the Premier League.

“It’s been a long road back to the Premier League and I couldn’t be any happier at Sheffield United.”