Wright eyes starting spot

Wright: Not here to make up the numbers

New Sheffield United signing Richard Wright has set his sights on regular first-team football following his move to Bramall Lane.

"I am certainly not here to spend the next four months just being part of the club."
Richard Wright Quotes of the week

The former England goalkeeper has joined the Blades on a four-month deal and will start on the bench for this weekend's Yorkshire derby against Leeds United at Elland Road.

The high-profile addition to the squad will put added pressure on first-choice goalkeeper Steve Simonsen - who also lost his place to Wright at Everton eight years ago.

"My aim is to play football, simple as that," he told the Yorkshire Post. "I am going to work as hard as I possibly can. I am certainly not here to spend the next four months just being part of the club.

"Simmo knows that I will be breathing down his neck and I want that shirt. It's only a short-term deal but this is a challenge I am looking forward to."

Wright's demise has been a spectacular one since winning two England caps back in 2003.

Released by Ipswich Town in the summer, Wright has become somewhat of a forgotten man after initially bursting onto the scene and securing big-money moves to Arsenal and Everton.

Slow summer

"Obviously, I have been frustrated at not playing enough football," he admitted.

"I have been at some clubs where I felt I should have been playing but it's not been quite right. I don't want to get worried about this or that now I just want to play football."

Wright has been training with Crystal Palace and MLS side San Jose Earthquakes this season and was also linked with a possible move to Hull City.

But, after training with the Blades last week, he persuaded Blades boss Gary Speed to offer him a short-term deal.

"I was hoping for a deal sooner rather than later but it's been a really slow summer with not many people moving," he reflected.

"In football, with goalkeepers, it's like a merry-go-round and when one moves there is a knock-on effect.

"I spoke to Hull and I know Mark Prudhoe, the club's goalkeeping coach, but I came up here for a look around last Thursday and Friday, I joined in, and I saw what a great club it is.

"Everyone I know speaks very positively about Gary Speed and it was great to see how the lads reacted to him during my first two days in training."