English Championship side Sheffield United, who are fighting to win promotion to next season’s Premiership, are keen on extending the sponsorship agreement which came into force last year.

Sheffield United, popularly known as The Blades in England, are on a short training camp in Malta during which manager Kevin Blackwell led the squad into some recovery sessions in preparation for the remaining six matches on which rely most of their promotion hopes.

Blackwell said: “The agreement has been very fruitful, not only to Sheffield United, but also to Malta, as the MFA has opened a very good relationship which has already seen national coach Dusan Fitzel visiting our facilities twice. In future we hope to see even some Maltese youngsters joining our Academy, which is also very popular in the whole of England.”

He also felt that Malta had gained a lot of exposure through the agreement.

I recalled that when I was there in September of last year, he had told the Maltese press that Sheffield United would be fighting for promotion this season. “My predictions have been proved right. In actual fact, I had said that we will try to get to the play-offs. But now I think we can think of an even higher level – earning promotion outright through the runner-up position. We have done well in our last few matches and we are only three points behind Birmingham and with a game in hand. If we win our next two matches, at home to Ipswich and Barnsley, then our chances of winning promotion without the need of play-offs, becomes quite possible. If we manage to get to the Premier League, we will do our best to try and stabilise the team among England’s elite. But we cannot count the chickens before they are hatched. At present, we are focusing on our remaining matches so that we can maintain our current form,” he said.

Blackwell said Malta provided The Blades with a wonderful opportunity to hold a training camp at this particular time. “The facilities of the MFA are excellent as is the Maritim Antonine Hotel & Spa at Mellieha, where they are accommodated. These have been a fabulous few days and I am sure that whether we win promotion or not, we will be back for a pre-season summer camp on the island,” he added.

I also spoke to goalkeepers’ coach Andy Leaning about Malta’s No 1 goalie Justin Haber, who is United’s No. 3 goalie at the moment. “Justin has settled down nicely in Sheffield. He has a great attitude, takes training very seriously and with great enthusiasm. Although he has not played in the Championships this season, he has played in Cup competitions and in the Reserves side. I predict that he will have much more chances in the not too distant future. Unluckily for him, United have two outstanding goalkeepers in the squad, but he must keep trying. There is no doubt he has a great future, and when he gets the chance, he will have to grab it,” he said.

One of the youngsters in Sheffield United’s squad, Gray Halford, said the squad was now very excited at the prospect of winning promotion to the Premiership. “We have been playing well of late and we are full of confidence. True there will be some pressure, but that is part and parcel of the game of football – in fact, even the other six or seven clubs will face similar pressure in the chase for promotion. However, I am sure we can win all our remaining matches. I feel we have more than a 50-50 chance of making it to the Premier League,” he said.