Sheffield United v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Sander Berge happy to take on forward-thinking role for Blades in Premier League

Sander Berge was a Champions League holding midfielder good enough for Sheffield United to pay £23m for him. He has not played a single Premier League game in that position.

Wilder saw qualities from the Norwegian in possession and an eye for goal which suited him to his attacking midfield positions, and Berge’s recent performances are starting to prove him right.

At home to Wolverhampton Wanderers tonight, Berge will more than likely be again asked to do a job he always thought he had in him, but no manager had the confidence to ask for.

“For six or seven years I probably watched so many attacks standing in the midfield so it suddenly feels a bit weird suddenly being in the box and finishing them off!” he says. “But I really enjoy it, it’s a fun part of the game.

“I used to think why can’t I be more box to box? I guess I used to be more of a leader and the guy who sets the attacks off and keeps the team balanced while other team-mates attack.

“Here I’m supposed to go forward more. My biggest strength is to drive with the ball, not necessarily doing mazy dribbles and being the most creative, but it was more about taking off pressure, eliminating people and carrying it forward.

“Suddenly when I’m there, it feels like I bring back the old me because when I was younger I played as a striker.”

Berge has really come of age in the last few days. He stayed in South Yorkshire during the coronavirus lockdown and used the time to settle in, helped particularly by mixing with centre-back John Egan when that was allowed, and working hard on his fitness after initially and understandably struggling to cope with the greater intensity after leaving Belgian side Genk.

The 22-year-old namechecks Kevin De Bruyne as a player he enjoys working and albeit in a very different structure to Manchester City’s, there are similarities to his role, starting right of centre but expected to get outside and cross, inside and score. In the last couple of games he has stepped up , scoring his first goal in English football against Tottenham Hotspur last Thursday.

“Before if I’d played that position I probably would have shot way off target, now I have more composure and confidence in all parts of the game,” says Berge.

“When I signed they (the Sheffield United management) said they’d seen me do that in national team games. Against Liverpool in the Champions League we were playing 5-3-2 and I played in a sitting role but I still drove with the ball like I was playing No 8 (as an attacking midfielder).

“Now I can do that more from a higher position which has brought the best out of me. For the national team we play 4-4-2 and I always play centrally but then we can overload and I can put in crosses. They told me they’d seen that, when the game opened up I was more creative and took more risks, now they want me to do that from the beginning.

“I see that is maybe where I’m best suited in this system. I can run a lot with a lot of power and speed, carrying the ball and making crosses. The Spurs game showed I’m capable of being in the box, having composure and finishing them (opportunities) off, creating chances while still doing a job in defence.

“It’s not like I’m running around thinking ‘What should I do now?’ I naturally find my positions. It looks and feels way better.”

Feeling at home must be difficult in such an unusually hectic league as the Premier League, never mind playing for a team whose style is unlike any other. Off the field the challenges have been greater still.

“Belgium to the Premier League is big step but it’s not like you’re changing your qualities, you have to try and be yourself while adapting to the team,” he argues. “The build-up is different, how we do things, it’s about being comfortable. The first games I was thinking too much, now I’m comfortable and demanding the ball.

“I’ll read what George (Baldock, the right wing-back) and Bash (right-sided centre-back Chris Basham) are doing instead of running everywhere and being in the wrong place.”

Egan in particular has helped away from the field.

“Mostly we spent time at his home,” explains Berge. “He’s like a big brother. He’s been in English football for a long time and he’s one of the leaders in our team. It’s been nice to be at his gaff as he says.

“He loves basketball and I come from a basketball family, we both love F1, we love to watch football.

“There’s also Baldock or Billy (Sharp), I get along with everyone very well. Lunny (Lundstram) and Jack O’Connell were the hardest to understand at the start, I just said yes and moved on. But now I don’t need to ask them two or three times.

“Whoever I spend time with I feel comfortable, I get along with everyone.”

Berge is starting to look very comfortable outside of his holding midfield comfort zone.

Last six games: Sheffield United DWWLLL; Wolverhampton Wanderers LWWWDD.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (Leeds).

Last time: Sheffield United 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0, September 27, 2017, Championship.

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