The China international, who made an impressive start to his Bramall Lane career against Birmingham City last weekend, amassed a wealth of top-flight experience during a six year stay at Manchester City.

United's previous attempt to establish themselves among the game's elite ended in controversy when a combination of the Carlos Tevez Affair and a final day defeat to Wigan Athletic saw them slip back into the Football League just nine months after winning promotion.

But Sun has already seen enough to convince him that Kevin Blackwell's side can follow in the footsteps of his former club and become a major footballing power.

"If Sheffield United get to the Premiership then I think we can stay there forever," he said.

"We can do what City have done and stay there for a very long time. I don't think we would go down again because there is a lot of excellent players here.

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"It's a very good team, we saw that on the first day against Birmingham, but if people say they're dream is to spend one season there then they're wrong.

"What you have to dream about is spending all your time there and there is no reason why we can't do that.

"Hopefully my experience can help my new team mates but we have players here who know all about the Premiership too like Gary Speed and James Beattie."

Sun's performance at St Andrews, where United created the better opportunities against Alex McLeish's side only to succumb in the 92nd minute, is expected to see him face this afternoon's visitors Queens Park Rangers.

"I don't think there are many other teams, if any, who will keep Birmingham, the favourites to go up, as quiet as we did," Sun added.

"That tells you a lot about us and in the end we were very unlucky."

United unveil the full-version of their new matchday programme, SU2, today, at £3.

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