Former Sheffield United Midfielder Set For Shock Switch

Former Sheffield United midfielder Oliver Norwood is set for a shock move to League One side Stockport County.

That’s according to Pete O’Rourke, who suggests on Football Insider that the free agent could link up with Dave Challinor’s side before the end of the transfer window.

The 33-year-old has been training with the Hatters, who currently lead League One after an explosive start to the season. They beat Cambridge 2-0 in their opening game, then brushed aside Blackpool, 3-0, at Bloomfield Road, hastening Neil Critchley’s exit from the club.

They’ve done this in the grip of an injury crisis which saw numerous players ruled out of their opener, and that means they need versatility from new recruits. Norwood can play anywhere in the middle of the park, ticking a number of boxes for the ambitious outfit.

Burnley-born Norwood came through the ranks at Manchester United, later appearing for Huddersfield, Reading and Brighton, as well as enjoying numerous loan spells. He’s best known for his time with the Blades, twice helping them to promotion to the Premier League in a Bramall Lane career that saw him make 250 appearances.

He has also been capped 57 times by Northern Ireland, but it seems his career is winding down, as he was releaed by the Blades in the summer, and hasn’t appeared for his country since 2018, having retired from international football at 29.

As a player who has been promoted four times from the Championship, it’s apparent that Stockport see value in his experience as well as his quality. He now edges toward a permanent deal at Edgeley Park as they seek to make it back-to-back promotions and achieve a Championship return for the first time since 2002.

Writer’s View

Stockport have gone off like a rocket this season, with a great blend of experience and talent in their squad. Their recruitment has been solid, and Challinor is seen as one of the brightest up-and-coming managers in the division. They’ve been to hell and back in the last few years, struggling in the National League North for a while, but there’s no doubt the direction the club is heading in now.

Norwood signing would be a sensation – as he was helping Sheffield United to the Premier League in 2018/19, they were fighting the likes of Blyth Spartans and Curzon Ashton in the sixth tier of English football. Their rise has been exciting, but it’s only a return to where a club of their stature feels it belongs.

Norwood would be a marquee signing – even at 33 he’s still got plenty of football in him, and he can bring the sort of higher-level experience some of their other younger talent can learn from. Lewis Fiorini, Jayden Fevrier and Lewis Bate are all top young players, and with the likes of Norwood and Nick Powell to learn from, they could thrive.

Watch out for Stockport County this season. They’re only just getting started.