Derry City's Stephen Mallon aiming for new Sheffield United deal

The Ireland under 21 international, who extended his stay at the Brandywell from the Bramall Lane club for the rest of the 2020 campaign, hopes to do enough to earn a new deal with the Premier League side or at least do well enough to attract interest from other English clubs.

"These remaining games of the League of Ireland are crucial for me," he insisted.

"When the season finishes you are heading into the January transfer window and I'll have six months left on the my contract and that's when Sheffield United tend to make decisions, so I want to obviously come away from my experience at Derry, knowing that I have done well enough to either get myself a new contract with Sheffield United or generate interest from other clubs.

"Look I have always said that Ireland wasn't my end goal, I want to play in England and I want to play in the highest league and I want to do the best I can.

"So for me getting back to England is the main thing, but for now I'm focused on Derry and doing well in the League of Ireland for myself and the team and hopefully we'll be able to kick-on, whenever the season gets up and running again."

Mallon was really starting to hit top form and had scored in Derry's last two games before the coronavirus shutdown curtailed the season, but the Belfast man is now looking to pick up where he left off when the season gets underway again later this month.

"It was unfortunate when the season went into lockdown, because I was really enjoying my football and I was really enjoying the games, especially the last two, but being away wasn't bad either because I got a few months rest and now I'm ready to go again and I'm buzzing for the season to start again," he added.

"Yes it was disappointing that the season shutdown, but I expect myself to keep to those same standards when we start up again.

"I was just waiting to get it all sorted out and getting it over the line, it was what I wanted, as I wanted to stay at Derry and get more games, gain more experience, so yeah I'm delighted it's now all done."

Mallon has praised boss Declan Devine and his coaching staff for that form, as he feels the Derry manager's positivity have helped him and also played a major role in him not thinking about joining any other club when his initial loan spell ended last month.

"I have now set standards and I want to keep to them, even every day at training," he explained.

"I know that Decky wants me to get at people and be positive, go out and excite and get the fans off their seats and all that starts in training and what we do every day in 11 vs 11 games, Decky wants to make sure that I remain positive in every session.

"Knowing that Decky and the rest of the coaching staff and the players have belief in me and let me go and express myself, it makes it a lot easier for me to get to those high performances.

"I didn't speak to any other team, because Decky came to me and said to me that Derry wanted to extend my loan and that was something that I definitely wanted to do myself, so after getting in contact with Sheffield United, they were happy enough with me extending my loan and gain some more experience."

After David Parkhouse's successful campaign last year, Mallon was quick to follow the Strabane man to Foyleside and he feels the Candy Stripes and Blades link-up is something that can benefit both clubs, especially as Mallon believes the standard in the League of Ireland is better for any young player on the books at cross channel clubs than playing in under 23 football in England.

"Obviously Sheffield United are a Premier League club and they have got a lot of young talent and I think making their move over to the likes of Derry City or teams in the League of Ireland, it's definitely good for young lads," he added.

"I think Derry can definitely benefit from taking different young lads from Sheffield United, because I feel it's a great club for a young lad to come and get experience and being around good people.

"The League of Ireland is a lot different even physically, it's more demanding and you are actually playing for three points every week, whereas in the under 23's it's like you are going out and I think everyone is just trying to impress to try and get into the first team and if that's not looking likely, then the standard kind of drops and some games aren't great.

"So actually taking that step into senior football and getting that experience is the best thing for me at this point in my career."

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