Sheffield United: Simon Moore's 'desire' to join the Blades

The 26-year-old goalkeeper is in line for his Blades debut at Millwall this afternoon after completing the formalities in his transfer yesterday. Moore then trained with his new teammates at Bramall Lane, before Wilder’s squad made the journey to London.

And Wilder - who revealed Darren Ward, United’s goalkeeping coach, had given Moore a positive reference - said: “We’ve tracked Simon for a while. And, as I’ve talked about over the last three months, competition is key.

“He comes in, he’s got a good CV and he’s experienced. We’ve spoken to people who have worked with him, players and goalkeeping coaches, and they all have only good things to say.

“He’s a great age so I have no problem giving three year contracts to players of a good age and a good mentality, who show a great desire and mentality to come here. Now it’s up to us, and him of course, to get the best out of him.”

Moore joined United for an officially undisclosed fee, which The Star understands includes a £250,000 down-payment and £240,000 in performance-related instalments.

“He’s only been kept out of a Championship side by an international goalkeeper in David Marshal),” Wilder continued.

“I’ve worked closely with Wardy on this because I trust his judgement. We’ve done due diligence on Simon, on his performances and his character.

He was outstanding for Brentford and he’s at a good age. It’s a good bit of business, I think, from our point of view. He’s played in pressure games and he’s played for Cardiff so he understands the pressures of representing a big club.

“He also made it clear he wanted to come and join us.”

Wilder was forced into the transfer market after George Long, United’s young goalkeeper, failed to fully grasp the opportunity of being the club’s undisputed No.1.

“We’ll do whatever we can to help players who aren’t going through a great time,” Wilder said.

“But, ultimately, it’s up to them. “If you think it’s going to be great all the time then you are in the wrong profession. We aren’t going to be rubbing peoples’ heads.”

United, still searching for their first win of Wilder’s reign, take on Neil Harris’ Millwall side - who lost 5-1 at Peterborough in midweek.

“It’s always a difficult place to get a result but hopefully we’ll be seeing a reaction,” said Wilder, whose side capitulated at home to Southend on Tuesday night and lost 3-0.

“They are probably going to be saying the same thing as well. It’s a tightly contested division, the results show you that.

“It will be two teams who want to show a reaction and get a result. So that sets it up to be a fiercely contested game.”