‘Lucky’ Osborn worried about the lower levels

SHEFFIELD UNITED midfielder Ben Osborn may be a Premier League footballer, but few can say he has lost touch with his roots.

The Derby-born player has known it tough in football, having sampled the pain of rejection in his formative years at his hometown club before moving onto Nottingham Forest.

A humble individual, Osborn is grateful for where he has got to in the game, but in today’s difficult environment, he is sparing a few thoughts for those down the football pyramid who are not as fortunate as him.

As someone from the East Midlands, a hotbed of non-league football over the years, he admits that he feels for many friends and clubs who are facing uncertainty due to the huge financial ramifications of the game’s Covid-19 shutdown.

A host of league clubs are also facing grave and uncertain times, with Osborn conscious of the need for the game to survive its biggest crisis.

He said: “I am lucky to be where I am. Teams in the Championship, never mind League One, League Two or non-league, don’t know what’s going on or what will happen to their clubs.

“There has to be something done to save the pyramid which makes this country great.

“I have got mates in non-league who don’t have a clue what is going on. I can sympathise, clubs have to look after players and leagues have to look after clubs and everyone has got to come together.”

In his first season in the big time, Osborn has had to bide his time in his quest to establish himself, with starts in three FA Cup victories en route to the Blades reaching the quarter-finals being gratefully received.

There are no complaints in having to be patient for opportunities in the league either, with the 25-year-old happy to be part of a story which has the potential to turn into something special once the action resumes.

He added: “It was quite tough at the start and I had to wait for my chance. It was tough to settle into a squad who knew the formation so well and it has definitely been a learning curve, but one I’m grateful for in learning how to conduct myself and do as well as I can.

“If we do something special, it’ll take everyone involved and I’m trying to do my bit, give it all I have got every day in training and try and make a case.”