Senegal hotshot hopes to break England hearts at World Cup 2022 after rise from Non-league

Most goals are unremarkable, but there are always a few that stick in our minds.

For me, one such goal happened during a Championship game between Sheffield United and Blackburn a few months ago. Blades star Iliman Ndiaye won the ball in the middle of his own half and started running at a worried defence. He went past one player, then another before curling in a left-footed effort from the edge of the box.

Sitting in Bramall Lane's South Stand, which is named after Sheff Utd's greatest ever player Tony Currie, I couldn't help but think I was watching another legend in the making. Yet I was also worried that a Premier League club would poach Ndiaye if he did the business for Senegal in Qatar. Now, I'm worried that he'll end England's World Cup dream on Sunday.

Many of you will have never heard of Ndiaye... yet. The 22-year-old is in the middle of a meteoric rise from Boreham Wood to the Premier League (and believe me, England's top flight is just around the corner for the Senegal international).

Ndiaye, the son of a Senegalese father, was born in the northern French city of Rouen in March 2000. His ability was obvious from an early age, as he represented his local club and Ligue 1 giants Marseille before spending time in Senegal.

His family then moved to London when he was 14, and he was given the chance to make a name for himself at Boreham Wood. While in the non-league side's academy, he played for his local club Rising Ballers and impressed Mahrez Bettache, the club's head coach.

Bettache recently told Mirror Football : "You can tell a footballer by the way he runs. He just fit the profile. He was very silky with the ball. liman is probably the best freestyler slash footballer I know to this day. The things he does with the ball are just incredible."

While Ndiaye's silky skills were putting him on the map, Sheffield United were enjoying their own rise from the wilderness under Chris Wilder. The boyhood Blade was appointed the club's manager in May 2016 ahead of their sixth consecutive season in League One.

Wilder ended Sheff Utd's despair by building a team that won two promotions in three seasons to become a Premier League club again. The Blades went on to sign the likes of Oli McBurnie, Ben Osborn and Ravel Morrison ahead of their return to the big time, yet their quietest transfer - that of Ndiaye - was arguably their most important.

As the Blades went on to finish ninth in the Premier League to defy the bookies, Ndiaye spent the 2019/20 campaign in the reserves and on loan at non-league club Hyde United. Many supporters, myself included, didn't even realise he was our player.

The youngster did make his Premier League debut the following campaign - as Sheff Utd were relegated back to the Championship - but he only played once. He didn't get his chance until the Blades returned to the second tier, but boy did he take it.

Ndiaye was a breath of fresh air at Bramall Lane during the 2021/22 campaign, as Sheff Utd reached the play-offs. His dazzling feet, exciting burst of acceleration and genuine rawness made him one of the most magical players in the Championship.

Quite simply, there wasn't anyone else in the Sheff Utd squad that could do what he did. Yet that experience and quality when it mattered often went missing, including in the second leg of the play-off semi-final against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Ndiaye missed an opportunity in the dying seconds of the game to snatch the win. Forest went on to win on penalties and achieve promotion to the Premier League. There's little doubt in my mind that we would be a Premier League club if he had found the net.

Yet Ndiaye has built on that disappointment by producing a string of mesmerising performances this season. He's scored nine goals in the Championship - including his stunner against Blackburn - to fire the Blades into the automatic promotion places and become part of Senegal's squad for the first time.

If he stays a member of Paul Heckingbottom's squad, promotion should be achieved with him in the Championship's Team of the Year. Even if that doesn't happen, it's only a matter of time before a Premier League club comes calling for "The Senegalese Starboy"; the nickname given to him by United's social media team and fans.

And Ndiaye's stock will grow even further if he breaks English hearts on Sunday. Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate must be aware of the threat he poses and find a way to ensure his pace and ability doesn't torment Harry Maguire and John Stones into submission.

Senegal boss Aliou Cisse started Ndiaye in his team's crucial 2-1 win against Ecuador last Tuesday and there's every chance he'll give him the nod again. Careers are made at World Cups, and England must not allow Ndiaye to add another fine goal to his repertoire.