Sheffield United: This is how the Blades have fared after the international break in recent seasons

These breaks in the football calendar can interrupt a run of good form or lead to key players getting injured '“ but how has it affected Sheffield United in recent campaigns?

Heading into the current international break, Chris Wilder's side have won four successive league fixtures and will face Bristol City at the weekend at Ashton Gate.

Championship '“ 2017/18

Last season the break wasn't a problem at all, as the Blades continued a two match winning run for another two games after the break.

After wins against Barnsley and Derby, 1-0 and 3-1 respectively, Wilder's men took all three points against eventually-relegated Sunderland, 2-1, and then overcame Bolton Wanderers 1-0.

The winning run was halted in the next match in a 1-0 home defeat against Norwich.

League One '“ 2015/16

There was no international break for League One clubs in the 2016/17 campaign, but an interruption to league fixtures in 2015/16 ruined a winning run of four matches.

After opening day defeat to Gillingham, the Blades bagged a run of wins against Chesterfield, Peterborough, Blackpool and Swindon that season and then were hit with successive defeats against Bury and Colchester.

League One '“ 2014/15

United followed a win over Crawley with a draw against Preston before a break in league fixtures and then bounced back with wins over Rochdale and Colchester. 

That all came to an abrupt end when the Blades were on the wrong end of a 5-2 result away at Swindon Town.