Pundit Carlton Palmer has singled out Sheffield United’s striker Kieffer Moore as the player he would have found most challenging to face during his professional career.
Moore joined Sheffield United this summer after transferring from Bournemouth, marking a busy transfer window for the newly-relegated Championship side. Following their drop from the Premier League, manager Chris Wilder had to address a significant loss of players, but he responded by bringing in several exciting new talents. Among these arrivals are Harrison Burrows, Callum O’Hare, Michael Cooper, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, and, notably, Moore.
The Wales international made his way to South Yorkshire after an impressive loan spell with Ipswich Town, where he played a crucial role in their promotion by scoring eight goals in the second half of the previous season.
Carlton Palmer’s verdict on Sheffield United’s Kieffer Moore
Palmer, known for his roles as both a defensive midfielder and central defender with clubs such as Sheffield Wednesday, West Bromwich Albion, and Leeds United, thrived on the physical aspects of football.
His illustrious playing career began in 1984 and lasted over 20 years, during which he earned 18 caps for England. In that era, officials tended to be more lenient when making decisions, allowing players to make better use of their physical strengths. Palmer was well-regarded for his ability to leverage these advantages; however, he has identified Kieffer Moore as a player who would have posed significant challenges for him, and his reasoning is understandable.
“I was not the type of player who worried about who I played against, so I never thought who would be horrible to play against come the weekend,” Palmer exclusively told Football League World.
“You always have difficult opponents and as a player, you want to get on the front foot and test yourself against better players, so I wasn’t one of those that worried about it.
“In the present day game as a centre-back, one of the players that you look at having a battle with is Sheffield United’s Kieffer Moore, he’s a right handful.
“He’s very, very good in the air, controls the ball well, backs into you, leans into you, forces you back against the edge of the box, you’ve got to be really on your game.
“He knows where the back of the net is, he’s very strong and physical so you’d know you’d be in for a hard afternoon’s work with him. You wouldn’t want to get involved and get booked early doors, especially with him backing in and bringing other players into play.
“He’s a very good player and this was a very good signing for Sheffield United, and it’s proved to be that because he holds the ball up, he links up well, he’s very strong in the air physically and going forward.
“So it would be hard work playing against Moore, but that’s the challenge you have when you become a professional footballer. If you want to be the best then you have to come up against the best and you’re going to sometimes come up against players who present difficult problems for you.
“As a centre-back, you have two types of strikers – some with pace and some who have the physical attributes that Moore does, which would make your afternoon a nightmare.”
Kieffer Moore’s start to the season at Sheffield United
Despite being a seasoned Championship striker with multiple promotions to his name, Moore has faced a challenging period in front of goal since returning to the second tier this summer.
| Kieffer Moore’s Championship stats, as per FotMob [stats correct as of September 26] | ||||
| Season | Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 2013/14 | Yeovil Town | 20 | 4 | 0 |
| 2016/17 | Ipswich Town | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017/18 | Barnsley | 20 | 4 | 4 |
| 2019/20 | Wigan Athletic | 36 | 10 | 4 |
| 2020/21 | Cardiff City | 42 | 20 | 1 |
| 2021/22 | Cardiff City, Bournemouth | 26 | 9 | 2 |
| 2023/24 | Ipswich Town (loan) | 18 | 7 | 1 |
| 2024/25 | Sheffield United | 6 | 1 | 0 |
The former Cardiff City and Wigan Athletic forward has gone over a month without scoring, experiencing four consecutive goalless matches since his debut at Bramall Lane, where he netted a first-half goal against QPR on August 10.
While some Sheffield United fans have criticized Moore for his lack of goals, the underlying statistics indicate that he is likely to start scoring again soon. He boasts an expected goals (xG) return of 3.0, which is only surpassed by Josh Maja, the division’s top scorer with six goals from six matches. Sheffield United’s squad, featuring creative players like Burrows, O’Hare, and Gus Hamer, is generating plenty of opportunities, and it’s anticipated that Moore will take advantage of these chances in the near future. His ability to win ground and aerial duels remains a valuable asset, confirming that he is indeed the handful that Palmer described.
Overall, despite his struggles in front of goal, Moore has made a strong impression in his new environment in the Steel City. His all-around skills make him a challenging opponent for any Championship defender, who must face the daunting task of engaging in a physical battle with the 32-year-old.
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