Martin Sherif, a battered boss and his time with Rotherham United
MATT Hamshaw spotted an old rugby tackle bag gathering dust in a corner of Roundwood, dragged it out on to the pitch and soon wished he hadn't.
The manager was at Rotherham United's training base working with Martin Sherif on holding off opponents and winning headers with his back to goal.
Playing the role of a burly, no-nonsense defender with the help of the bag, he found himself getting battered and bruised as he did battle with the teenage striker.
“I couldn't believe how strong he was,” the boss grinned. ”After five minutes, I had to say: 'Okay, good work, Mate, let's take a break for a drink.' I needed a breather.”
Sherif is no longer a Miller. A few days ago, he returned to Premier League parent club Everton because injuries had blighted his loan spell at AESSEAL New York Stadium.
It's such a shame that Rotherham didn't see the best of a youngster whose potential is even bigger than his hulking frame.
Only ten appearances in four months following his late-August arrival wasn't what anyone was hoping for.
He announced himself with a Justin Bieber tune in his first interview, innocently warbling his way through a few lines when he was invited to showcase his initiation song.
‘Ooh, Baby,’ thought the New York crowd when he scored in front of the North Stand on his debut in front of the North Stand in a 2-2 draw with Wigan Athletic two days later.
Everton wanted him playing senior football and thought that League One was the ideal environment in which to accelerate his development. Almost literally, he'd outgrown the junior ranks in which he'd regularly been hitting the target.
He bagged a second Millers goal a few weeks later, very similar to his first - a well-timed glide and a neat finish during another 2-2 home draw, this time against Bradford City.
“It's been really hard for Martin because he's not consistently stayed fit, has he?” Hamshaw said just before the youngster was forced into a third hamstring-related absence that signalled the beginning of the end of his time in South Yorkshire.
“I think that he's got a lot to learn but I also think that he's got a lot to give. He just needs a constant run of men's games and then I think you'll see the best of him. We haven't had the luxury of giving him that.”
Sherif had his choice of clubs and Hamshaw's sense of humour won the day.
“Smile,” the boss urged the centre-forward and his agent who were looking decidedly glum as they grew tired of one Zoom meeting after another with interested clubs. “You've got more than half of the division after you!”
It would go on to take a while to dot the 'i's and cross the 't's, but the player laughed out loud and from that moment was set on a move to Rotherham.
Sherif was almost-comically large and muscular - like a comprehensive kid playing against kindergarten opposition. His size belied a deft touch and he had a turn of pace, but he didn't always look after the ball.
It was easy to forget how young he was because of his stature. The Liberia-born Dutch youth international who joined Everton when he was 13 doesn't turn 20 until next June.
He was likeable, open, confident - very comfortable in talking about his qualities, yet not arrogant. It was as if it had simply never occurred to him that he was anything other than an exceptional talent.
There were just four third-tier starts and his debut was the only time he lasted a full game. And whenever he was in the side for kick-off, a hamstring issue invariably ensued.
Hamshaw believed that the size of the player may have contributed to his continual unavailability.
“Martin's a big, strapping, lad so he's going to carry a risk of injury because his bones probably haven't developed as of yet into the body that he's got,” he said.
The youngster disappeared at half-time in the 0-0 draw at Luton Town on November 15 and was never seen in a Rotherham shirt again.
The decision that he would go back to Everton had been taken weeks before the top-flight side officially recalled him - with the Millers' full co-operation - on December 31
There's a good relationship between the two clubs and there could be further loan movement between them down the line.
“Martin's got huge promise.” Rotherham's boss said. “When he first came in, we saw that. Then, obviously, his injuries hit him.”
Sherif is going to be some player one day. He's too much of a physical unit not to be.
Just ask Hamshaw.
Just ask the tackle bag.