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This article is part of Football FanCast's The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Recently, we outlined why Pierre-Emile Højbjerg's midfield battle with Sheffield United string-puller Oliver Norwood was crucial to the outcome of Saturday's game.

While Højbjerg didn't necessarily lose his individual battle despite Norwood's impressive individual numbers from the match, the Danish midfielder needs more help from teammates such as Oriol Romeu despite their 1-0 win.

What happened at Bramall Lane?

We detailed how Højbjerg's pressing ability would be crucial to getting a result against the Blades, winning the ball high up the pitch and taking advantage.

While it was Sofiane Boufal who nipped in for Moussa Djenepo to go on and score, Højbjerg still had a huge influence on proceedings.

The former Bayern Munich man registered three key passes and two dribbles, while also completing two tackles, two interceptions and two clearances, but Norwood and his midfield partner John Fleck's numbers from the match prove that Romeu, James Ward-Prowse and Boufal needed to help out more

How did the trio perform?

As aforesaid, Boufal got the assist for the winner and completed 10 dribbles too, per WhoScored, so he played well - however, the Moroccan, Romeu and Ward-Prowse didn't help Højbjerg out enough from a defensive aspect.

Romeu - Højbjerg's midfield partner in a two - made no interceptions and no blocks, while also failing to register a key pass or complete a single dribble.

Ahead of the duo, Ward-Prowse didn't complete a dribble or take a shot, and also made just one tackle.

In Boufal's case, he didn't make a single defensive action at all and was also dispossessed a game-high seven times.

Contrastingly, you can see how influential Norwood and Swift were by their statistics.

Norwood made a game-high four key passes and also made four tackles, two interceptions and three clearances, whereas Fleck took five shots, made three key passes and completed three dribbles.

Højbjerg did well to help his side come out with a 1-0 win, but the Saints risk overloading the 24-year-old against better opposition, as evidenced by the stats of his team-mates.

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