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When Danny Ings finally scored his first goal away from West Ham in December – the equaliser in Sheffield United’s December draw against Norwich City – he felt a wave of ‘relief’ wash over him.
The former England international was supposed to be the razor-sharp marksman who gave the Blades an extra sense of cutting edge in the final third
Instead, Ings was forced to wait 11 Championship games before belatedly opening his Sheffield United account three weeks before Christmas.
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Strikers often make reference to that ‘Ketchup bottle’ metaphor. Keep tapping away at the glass, and eventually you’ll be swimming in sauce.
But if Danny Ings felt that he had opened the floodgates with his first goal since leaving West Ham United on a free transfer, his plate is once again dry and his tally bare.
Former West Ham striker Danny Ings seems destined for Sheffield United exit
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
That Norwich strike is remains only goal in 20 Sheffield United appearances.
From struggling to nail down a starting berth in the first half of the season, game time has become even more elusive since the turn of the year.
He has played only 35 minutes in the Blades’ last 14 league matches. In that time, he has been omitted from the matchday squad on no fewer than eight occasions.
Understandably, The Star report that the veteran poacher is facing an ‘uncertain future’ in the Steel City.
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Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images Ings does not appear to be in Chris Wilder’s plans
His short-term contract runs only until July.
If Patrick Bamford and Tom Cannon are already firmly ahead of Ings in Chris Wilder’s pecking order, then the return of Ryan One from a successful loan spell at League One champions Lincoln City could be the final nail in the proverbial coffin.
“[One] is a number nine who can link it up, run down the sides and score,” Wilder says of the youngster. “I’m not putting too much on Ryan. But he’s got a big future. And his future is with us.
Where Ings’ future lies, though, is anything but clear.
Having played a supporting role to Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen during a forgettable spell with West Ham – four Premier League starts and two goals in a season-and-a-half – it is deja vu for Danny.
“It’s been quite a tough road for me over the last couple of years, to be honest,” Ings told The Star in December. “I’m just kind of trying to fight back to my old ways, and doing what I’ve been doing for such a long time.
“On a personal note, it has been a difficult road.”
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