“I’m still buzzing.”
It may not have been the best goal of his career, but for Rhian Brewster it meant more than any other – at least in a Sheffield United shirt, as he bagged the winner in the derby.
“One of the staff here asked me how many times I’ve watched it, and I told him ‘not enough’,” he tells Sky Sports with a smile.
“I’d missed the first game at Bramall Lane and was disappointed not to be involved, so to play in this one and score the only goal, and have the fans chanting my name, it was just amazing, an amazing feeling.
“I would have preferred to have beaten them 3-0 or something, so it was a bit more comfortable at the end!
“Even if I didn’t score I’d have been happy for us just to win the game and get the three points.”
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Brewster scored to give Sheffield United the win against Sheffield Wednesday
It isn’t a huge surprise it was Brewster’s finest moment in red and white.
Injuries have harmed his entire tenure at the club since joining in 2020. He has missed 50 per cent of their games in that time.
Finally, though he seems to be fit and firing again.
Friday 28th March 7:00pm
Kick off 8:00pm
“You do feel like you’ve lost a few years because of injuries and stuff, but I’m always looking at the bigger picture,” Brewster says.
“Physically it felt like every time I showed signs of getting back to it I ended up with another injury.
“It has been annoying, but it’s in the past now and I can’t do anything to change it.”
This has undoubtedly been Brewster’s best season at the club. Playing either as a striker or a midfielder, he has featured in 29 league games already – with 11 coming from the start.
In that time there have been three goals and three assists as he has helped towards their promotion push.
“You obviously want to play all the minutes you can, but they’ve managed me well,” Brewster says.
“It’s been gradual at times but the more you play the more trust you get in your body to keep playing, to handle the physical stuff and the sprinting.
“I’m feeling more confident that I can play, score goals and influence games.”
Brewster has made 32 appearances this season in all competitions
Slowly, but surely, Brewster may finally be edging towards a place where he see the best of him.
Approaching his 25th birthday, he still has faith in himself that he can get to the level of the promise he showed at Liverpool and England youth level, and with Swansea in the Championship in 2019/20.
“I’ve just got to stay fit, first of all, Brewster says. “By looking after myself.
“Then I’ve just got to keep kicking on each game. Help the team by either scoring or assisting, then working as hard as I can.
“I’ve never stopped believing in myself and that I can try and become the player I know I can become.
“Obviously my body was just letting me down a little bit. But I’m doing the right stuff, not that I wasn’t doing the right stuff then.
“But I know my body better as I get older, so maybe I’m resting when before I wouldn’t be and I’d have gone for a long walk instead.
“I always want to do extra after training, but sometimes it’s not always the best idea after a tough day. So you maybe leave shooting practice to a lighter day. Those little bits can make such a difference.”
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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United
And Brewster is also hopeful that his recent upturn can result in agreeing a new contract with the club. His current deal at Bramall Lane expires at the end of the season.
“Of course I’m just concentrating on the rest of the season, but I know the clubs are in talks and stuff about a new contract,” he says.
“I do love it here and I do love the fans, you saw that in the derby.”
Brewster, and the Blades fans, will hope that his ambitions come true, and there are many more glorious days like the one at Hillsborough to come.
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