James Shield: Sheffield United duo will be sick as parrots but determined to see their new pals prevail

But deep down, Tommy Doyle and James McAtee will have been absolutely gutted. Sick as parrots. One hundred and ten percent down when Sheffield United, the team where they are spending the season on loan, drew their parent club Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final draw. There were a whole host of reasons why Paul Heckingbottom didn’t want to be paired with Pep Guardiola’s side at Wembley. Six of them came when they thrashed Championship leaders Burnley to reach the last four. Another was the knowledge that neither McAtee nor Doyle, whose screamer of a strike saw his men advance past Blackburn Rovers to reach the national stadium, would be able to feature if that fixture came about. Given that United have all the luck of a two leafed clover, there was an air of inevitability in the Bramall Lane press room on Sunday when, a couple of hours after Rovers had been sent packing back to Lancashire, their balls were plucked out of the pot together.

I suspect, if the decision was down to City, Guardiola would have let the two lads play. After all, the second most minted team on the planet won’t view United as a clear and present danger. And the whole point of sending them to South Yorkshire in the first place was to help them gain experience. If either of them do eventually make it at the Etihad, then unless there’s a dramatic change in football’s financial landscape, one suspects they’ll be making plenty of journeys to HA9 before the time comes to hang up their boots. So what better way to prepare than featuring there for United? Again arguably the best squad in the country.

Still, it wasn’t down to Guardiola or his technical department. The FA made the call. Long before United ensured what promises to be a memorable season would include a pit stop on the greatest stage of all. And do you know what? I can understand why the governing body prohibits loanees from playing against the “lending club.” Even though, in this instance, it would be tempting to suggest that the decision should be thrashed out between Heckingbottom and the Catalan.

Let’s assume they were eligible for next month’s contest and Heckingbottom selected one or both. I know United fans wouldn’t hold it against either if they dropped a clanger which handed the game to City. Because Doyle and McAtee have already proven their commitment. Likewise, I don’t think City’s followers would be too harsh if they scored world’ies to dump them out. If that happens - and in sport there’s always a chance - it would represent one of the greatest shocks in sporting history since, well, history began.

The trouble is, the same might not be true for another player somewhere else. And if the individual concerned wasn’t as emotionally invested in the club which had borrowed them as clearly Doyle and McAtee are, it might place them in a pretty intolerable position if they felt pressured into competing against the folk who pay their wages. Oh, and let’s not forget that not every manager or head coach is as understanding as Heckingbottom and Guardiola. So, if we’re being completely truthful, most of us can probably see why the governing body has taken this step. Even though, as I’ve said, in the case of these two supremely talented and young midfielders, it would be tempting to pretend otherwise.

•Speaking of Doyle and McAtee, a lot of mischievous people on social media have been asking who the pair will want to win when United meet City for the right to face Manchester City or Brighton and Hove Albion in June. Here’s my opinion - and it’s only an opinion because I’ve not actually asked either - for what it’s worth.

Footballers, and I don’t quite mean this as it sounds, can be pretty selfish individuals. They’re driven, self-absorbed at times and utterly ruthless. Both in terms of their approach towards matches and even salary negotiations with clubs. And they have to be as well. In order to not only survive but also prosper in such a competitive business.

Heckingbottom has touched on this himself countless times this season. Usually when discussing the fact that those above him in the boardroom seem to have zero interest - or zero capacity - to begin talking about new contracts or extended deals with those about to become free agents. Which pretty much covers everyone at the 45-year-old’s disposal, thanks to the fact that some bright spark has allowed all the good work his predecessor Chris Wilder did in terms of “ensuring the power rests with the club” to unravel over the past 24 months or so. “Effectively, all of these lads are self-employed,” Heckingbottom told The Star not so long back. “That’s the way it is, because of how it (football as a whole) is run. Yes, they’re dedicated as the boys here have shown. Above and beyond in fact. But they’ve also got to look after themselves and their careers. Because no one else will do that for them.”

Doyle and McAtee both want to eventually establish themselves at City. There’s nothing wrong with that. But if you ask me who they’ll be secretly cheering on in north London, on this occasion it will be United. Because, deep down and privately, they’ll want to see the job they started at Millwall in January right through until the end.