Sheffield United: Promotion order issued as squad chases Premier League return

Having entered the World Cup break second in the table, Paul Heckingbottom is confident his squad will grow even stronger once the selection crisis which saw 12 first team players miss their win over Cardiff City begins to ease.

Three points behind leaders Burnley, and two ahead of Blackburn Rovers in third, Heckingbottom wants United to issue a statement of intent when they return to action with a home game against Huddersfield Town next month.

“We want to get right back at it, not look to ease ourselves back in,” he said, ahead of his first anniversary as the club’s permanent manager. “You don’t get that luxury anywhere, let alone in the Championship. We’ve got to be focused, on the front foot and have that mindset and attitude which allows us to kick on.”

“We’ve done well so far,” he added. “But we haven’t actually done anything really, not what we want to do. As things really begin to take shape, we want to be right up there and showing that aggression we need to get the results and the consistency we want.”

After granting those members of his side not involved in the World Cup or the recent round of international friendlies a week long break, Heckingbottom and his coaching staff summoned them back to United’s training complex on Monday to begin preparing for the clash with Town.

Ensuring the likes of Max Lowe, Sander Berge and Jayden Bogle are able to compete over the Christmas and New Year period features at the top of United’s agenda, with Heckingbottom also hopeful that Tommy Doyle and John Fleck will be available to face the visitors from West Yorkshire.

Oli McBurnie, who has scored nine goals so far this term, had been expected to recover from hernia surgery in time to lead United’s attack during that match but a niggling ankle complaint is threatening to complicate his recovery.

“It’s all about getting ready to go again, and getting ready to give everything,” Heckingbottom said.