Former Sheffield United midfielder Keith Gillespie has exclusively told Football FanCast that he sympathises with striker Rhian Brewster following his nightmare first season at Bramall Lane.

The youngster became the Blades' record signing when he joined from Liverpool last summer, but still hasn't managed to get off the mark for the club.

Brewster has started just three times in the Premier League in 2021, and hasn't scored in 24 appearances in all competitions, although it's a growing theme at Sheffield United this term - with David McGoldrick and Billy Sharp the only strikers to have found the net more than once in the league.

United's struggles in front of goal have put the club on the verge of relegation, less than 12 months after they achieved their best topflight finish for 45-years.

But Gillespie, who played for Sheffield United the last time they were relegated from the Premier League, told Football FanCast that the England Under-21 star needs time:

"When you sign for Sheffield United, like he has done, and you look at what they achieved last season, you couldn't have foreseen the season they have.

"They haven't scored many goals. He's a young player who scored quite a few goals at Swansea, and people just expect him to step up and do that at Sheffield United, but he's ending up going to a struggling side and that becomes a problem.

"He hasn't played every week, they've chopped any changed - they've got McBurnie there, Sharp, McGoldrick. They have been trying to find that remedy, but you couldn't tell who are going to be the top up top week to week because none of them are scoring goals."

All of Brewster's senior goals came in the Championship with Swansea, and whilst the ex-Liverpool striker hasn't lived up to expectations at Bramall Lane, he could prove crucial in their bid to come straight back up next season, not forgetting that he only turned 21 earlier this month.