Sheffield United: Senegal's Iliman Ndiaye is placed on notice ahead of World Cup test

The 22-year-old could make his first appearance of the tournament when Aliou Cisse’s side face the host nation Qatar tomorrow, after watching their defeat by Holland during the opening round of games from the bench.

In ordinary circumstances, particularly given the travel time between South Yorkshire and the Middle East, Ndiaye would be granted time off in order to recharge both mentally and physically after flying back to England. But having scored nine goals during United’s last 21 Championship outings, helping them climb to second in the process, the youngster has been deemed too important to rest.

“Iliman will come straight back in, fitness permitting, when he’s with us again,” Paul Heckingbottom, the United manager, said. “He won’t be left out or given any time off. He’ll be involved again immediately.”

Given that most members of his squad were granted a leave of absence following their win over Cardiff City earlier this month, the decision not to afford Ndiaye the same luxury represents a gamble on Heckingbottom’s part. But, after admitting some United players would benefit from “not even thinking about football” given their workload in recent months, it is one he is prepared to take; particularly as his strike-partner’s Oli McBurnie’s recovery from hernia surgery could be complicated by an ankle complaint.

“We’ll have to see with Oli,” Heckingbottom conceded, after previously insisting his rehabilitation programme would be “pretty routine”. “The thing with his ankle might makes things a bit more difficult than would normally be the case. We’ll just have to watch how things pan out.”

After meeting Felix Sanchez’s side, Senegal, the reigning African champions, then face Ecuador as they attempt to qualify for the knockout stages. United are scheduled to resume their push for Premier League football on December 10, with a Yorkshire derby against Huddersfield Town. However, if Cisse’s men make it to the quarter-finals or beyond, Ndiaye would definitely be forced to miss that fixture and potentially their meeting with Wigan Athletic.

Adam Davies, on duty with Wales, is also expected to be selected as soon as Robert Page’s men either exit or win the cup.