Sheffield United supporters may be perplexed by this season, with Chris Wilder returning to the club just months after being ousted by those in power at Bramall Lane following an exceptionally bad start.

Ruben Selles’ stint in S2 was gloomy to say the least, with a 4-1 opening day defeat to Bristol City setting the tone for the next few weeks as the Blades suffered loss after loss, eventually landing in the bottom three. The Spaniard was fired shortly after, and the owners turned to a familiar face to assist steer the team in the right way.

However, it is fair to say that Wilder has made steady progress since returning to the South Yorkshire club for his third tenure as manager, though inconsistent form has prevented them from climbing the Championship table as swiftly as many would have liked.

Nonetheless, Sheffield United had a successful January transfer window, and they now find themselves in a situation that their head coach has perhaps never faced while at Bramall Lane. However, this also introduces new pressures.

Chris Wilder has a fantastic squad at Sheffield United.

The Blades were active in the January transfer window, notably on deadline day, with Kalvin Phillips, Joe Rothwell, and Leo Hjedle joining the club on February 2. The Blades’ roster is full of experience and skill, and they will be confident in their chances of making the play-offs.

Strength in depth is critical for any Championship team, particularly one aiming to make amends for a dismal start to the season, and Sheffield United must ensure that their new players gel fast as they look to climb the league table as soon as possible.

The distance to the top six is not large, and with those in and around the play-off slots so close together, a good run of form may propel Wilder’s team up the table at breakneck speed. However, they cannot afford to be complacent, as some of those near the top of the table have demonstrated their strength in recent weeks.

The Blades also have plenty of attacking threats, with Patrick Bamford, Danny Ings, Tom Cannon, and Tyrese Campbell vying for the striker position and being supported by Gus Hamer, Callum O’Hare, and Andre Brooks.

Chris Wilder has never been in this position at Sheffield United before.

Although Wilder has had great success at Sheffield United in the past, with promotion to the Championship and Premier League during his first spell in charge, this could be his strongest all-around group for the level at which he is.

That presents new issues, and while they may have been the underdogs in the past, it could be claimed that they are underachieving this season, and effort must be done in the coming months to ensure that they do not miss out on the race for the play-offs.

Sheffield United’s defeat to Sunderland at Wembley Stadium last season was devastating, and the club struggled to recover. However, with players like Hamer remaining at the club, they have the opportunity to put their rough start behind them.

Wilder is a manager with extensive experience and knowledge of the Championship, and while this is a new job for him, there is no doubt that he will thrive under the pressure.