LOANEE HOGAN ADDS AN EDGE TO BLADES

SCOTT Hogan will offer Sheffield United’s attack “a new dimension”, according to manager Chris Wilder.

The Blades, who had already bolstered their strike-force with the addition of Gary Madine, snapped up 26-year-old Hogan on loan from Aston Villa until the end of the season on transfer deadline day.

Wilder said: “I’ve made no secret of my admiration for Scott and his abilities. We made enquiries about him in the last window and we’ve had to be patient.

“He is a player we know a lot about and we are confident that he will be a great addition.

“Options at the top end of the pitch are important and, in the situation we find ourselves in, Scott offers us a new dimension.

“Scott had options, but he made it clear that he wanted to join us and that goes a long way in my book.”

Hogan said: “I’m finally here and I can’t wait to get started. There’s no hiding from the fact it’s been a difficult time for me at Villa. I’ve been there two years and had relative success but, personally, it didn’t happen for me.”

Republic of Ireland international Hogan began his professional career at Rochdale and scored 19 goals in 40 appearances in his only season at Spotland before he sealed a permanent move to Brentford in 2014.

He scored 21 times in 36 games for Brentford and was signed by Villa for a reported fee of £12million in January 2017.