After a summer of nappies, newborns and Peppa Pig, Mark Duffy might now just have the biggest football season of his life on his hands.
It has been a whirlwind 12 months for the attacking midfielder, who joined Sheffield United at the start of the 2016-2017 campaign from Birmingham City. Duffy made a fast start to life in South Yorkshire, quickly becoming a key man in Chris Wilder’s side.
The 31-year old helped the Blades finally break out of League One in stunning style, finishing top of the division and clinching promotion with 100 points. At the heart of Wilder’s awesome attacking unit was the small winger, racking up 44 appearances, nine assists, and six goals. He played a central role in firing Sheffield United’s attack and effectively linking midfield with the frontline.
Considering his importance at Bramall Lane it may have surprised some to see him left out of the starting XI for league matches against Brentford and Cardiff, with Samir Carruthers preferred in that important number 10 position. But an interrupted pre-season meant he had some catching up to do compared with his teammates.
Duffy’s off-season was an eventful one with the midfielder’s partner giving birth to their second daughter. The new arrival saw the 31-year-old miss the Blades’ pre-season trip to Spain and omitted from a friendly against Chesterfield and then team that beat Brentford 1-0 in the opening game of the season.
“I’ve missed a lot of pre-season and it's important for me to get good quality minutes under my belt,” Duffy tells The Sportsman.
“My missus took a long time to get the little one to come out. She was a bit stubborn, like my missus. Unfortunately, I had to miss Marbella and stay behind and train here. I missed Chesterfield because she went into labour that day but that’s something that couldn’t be helped really.
“The little one’s been brilliant, it’s been the oldest one who wants to get up at half-six to watch Peppa Pig. But that’s what kids are like, they’re great. It’s just about working hard now and getting up to speed.”
Duffy showed his class in the 1-0 defeat to Middlesborough, a game where the Blades were incredibly unlucky not to leave the Riverside with a point. He then gave a man of the match performance as Sheffield United battered Barnsley 1-0 at Bramall Lane on Saturday. His runs, his vision and exquisite touch ran rings around the Tykes’ defence.
It was this kind of display that richly illustrated Duffy’s value. If Sheffield United want to successfully attack the Championship in the same manner they did last season with League One, if they want to mount a promotion challenge, then the Liverpudlian, along with striker Billy Sharp, is a vital member of that plan.
“Momentum’s a big thing in football, it just carries over and that’s what we’re trying to do, keep it going,” Duffy says.
“The teams in the past that have carried that momentum on have done great things in their first season in the Championship. With this group of players there’s no reason why we can’t look at them and try and copy them really. “They’re all tough games in the Championship. Everyone’s going into games knowing how hard it’s going to be. We’re going to need the whole squad for the whole season and it’ll just be enjoyable.”
