If England’s World Cup knockout game against Senegal is settled by a penalty shootout, former Hyde United manager Dave McGurk has some words of encouragement for Gareth Southgate.
McGurk recalled one of the worst penalty misses of all time by Senegal striker Iliman Ndiaye when he was on loan at the non-league club from Sheffield United in 2020.
Hyde’s Cheshire Cup quarter-final against Vauxhall Motors went to a penalty shootout when Ndiaye had him head in hands moment.
“He skied the penalty about 10 yards over the bar, one of the worst misses I have ever seen. You can still find it on YouTube,” McGurk said.
Ndiaye has had a meteoric rise as less than three years ago he was turning out for Hyde in the seventh tier of the football pyramid.
Embed from Getty ImagesHyde, who loaned the striker, then aged 19, knew they had a special talent who was a cut above the Northern Premier League.
“Iliman is the best player I have worked with as a player or manager,” explained Dave McGurk, a centre half who played in the EFL for Darlington and York City, and the man who signed Ndiaye.
McGurk, 40, a veteran of 467 career playing appearances, admitted he was initially unconvinced whether Ndiaye was cut out for non-league.
He said: “John McCombe (then assistant Hyde manager) and I saw a lot of U23 football and watched Iliman three or four times before I tried to get him.
“You could see he had talent and potential, but he was not outstanding for the U23s, but I saw enough that he would improve us.
“Iliman was in and out of the U23 side, which is why we probably got him. He was probably at a crossroads in his career, he would either kick on or would be released.”
McGurk added the Blades had been looking to loan Ndiaye to a club at a higher level but, when that did not materialise, he clinched a deal on transfer deadline day.
He said: “I tried to get Iliman at the start of the month but had to be patient as Sheffield United wanted him playing at a higher level.
“I kept pestering them and, when nobody else took him, they said let’s do it on deadline day.”
McGurk knew instantly that he had a captured a gem.
“When we saw the things Iliman did in his first training session, we were aware he was a brilliant player. He was putting players on the floor with his feints and dummies,” he said.
“I gave Iliman a free rein for his debut against Grantham and the lads respected my decision as they knew he was a special talent. The lads loved him.”
Ndiaye was signed for the second half of the season with no recall clause. As the season was cut short in March because of the Covid-19 pandemic, he made only nine appearances, scoring once.
“The only thing which let Iliman down was his finishing. He created umpteen chances, mostly for himself, but needed to be converting them which he is now doing for Sheffield United where he is banging in the goals,” he continued.
McGurk also praised Ndiaye’s professionalism, saying: “I had a lot of time and respect for Iliman who bought into joining a non-league club. He was grounded, worked hard and nothing fazed him.
“He didn’t drive at the time and came over on the train from Sheffield and would return home at 9.30pm from Hyde. If we only had a light session, I told him he need not travel, but he wanted to be there.”
McGurk added it was sad the season was cut short as Ndiaye would probably have picked up silverware as Hyde were flying in the league and through to the semi-finals of two cup competitions.
“We played Iliman on one wing and Paddy Lane (since transferred to Fleetwood Town and now a Northern Ireland international) on the other flank,” he said.
“I looked forward going into games as we had matchwinners on the pitch who offered us quality. I gave them a free rein and didn’t put restraints on them as they were players way above our level.”
McGurk rates Ndiaye as one of the best players in the Championship believing he is destined to play again in the Premier League – he appeared once for the Blades in 2021 – or at a high level overseas.
He said: “Iliman was only with us two months, but I get a sense of pride when I see him at the World Cup knowing we played a part, however small, in his development. Whoever knows what an influence it had on him.
“It was great for Hyde, and it didn’t cost the club a penny as Sheffield United agreed to pay all his wages.”
McGurk hopes Ndiaye plays well if selected but obviously will be rooting for England.
Ndiaye has been likened as having more tricks than the late magician Paul Daniels, something current Hyde captain and centre back Brad Roscoe would not dispute.
He said: “Iliman was unbelievably skilful. You could see instantly he was above our level.
“We would have skills drills and races in training. Whereas our players were doing kick ups, Iliman rested the ball on his head, sprinted to the halfway line and won by a mile.
“Defenders at our level are decent, but he walked past them as though they weren’t there. He was tough to face in training and sat down many opponents, not me I hasten to add.
“When he was here, I knew he would make the mark at Sheffield United and for Senegal. And when I saw Sadio Mane was injured, I thought here’s his chance.”