Jokanovic Reveals He Is Weighing Up Change In Position For Blades Star

Jokanovic Reveals He Is Weighing Up Change In Position For Blades Star

Sheffield United manager Slavisa Jokanovic says he has talked to Sander Berge about employing the midfielder in a more advanced role.

The Blades have shifted to a 4-2-3-1 in recent weeks, with Oliver Norwood and John Fleck playing in the two holding midfield positions, leaving little space for Berge. The Norwegian international, however, came on as a substitute against Preston North End last night and scored. Jokanaovic feels the midfielder’s qualities could be better utilised by playing further up the pitch:

“I am talking with him and asking him how he feels about playing in this position. We brought him on because we needed to make more passes to make them (Preston) more tired, to get them running around us. His distribution was good from the left side, from right side and in the end he scored.”

“He’s a player who plays in the middle, but he produced a comfortable game with his quality. He’s not a guy who runs the spaces without the ball, but he can attack with the quality from centre mid or stepping in with the ball like here and I believe he did a good job. I am trying to find different solutions with this style that we play now.”

Berge has had a rather challenging start to the season. There was speculation about his future in the summer, with the likes of Arsenal and Napoli said to be interested in signing him.

He then struggled for form in the opening weeks before being sidelined with the virus during the international break earlier this month.  Whether he would be open to switching positions, we shall have to wait and see.