Sheffield United: Chris Wilder identifies when his team is at its absolute best

Speaking as United prepare for their return to Championship action following the international break, Wilder brushed aside suggestions his team's climb to third in the table is based on the element of surprise.

Insisting he will continue to encourage the type of risk and reward football which sees them enter Saturday's match at Bristol City chasing a fifth straight league win, Wilder said: "I just want the lads to take the handbrake off and play with some freedom.

"We've got some good players but it's also about doing the other stuff first. The stuff people don't always appreciate as much as a pass or a goal. But everything stems from that hard work and the willingness to get on second balls."

"We have to change shape and get used to counter attacking," the United manager added. "But we believe in what we are doing and how we are going about it.  "You have to evolve in terms of personnel, which I feel we have done, and also as a team tactically. 

"We have plans and we want to execute them. There's no big secrets here. We're at our best as a team and a football club when the players work their socks off."

United could hand debuts to Martin Cranie and Marvin Johnson at Ashton Gate after the duo's deadline day moves were completed after the midday cut-off point which would have enabled them to take part in the 4-1 win over Aston Villa earlier this month.

"They already know a lot of the lads but they've been using the break to work hard, settle in and find their way about," Wilder said. "We feel we've got a good group here now, right the way through."