'100%' - Paul Merson urges Sheffield United to stick with 'absolutely phenomenal' Wilder

The Blades have endured a miserable campaign in the top flight, and are currently rooted to the foot of the table, 14 points adrift of safety with 14 games left to play.

Wilder's men come up against fellow strugglers Fulham on Saturday night knowing that anything other than a win would do little to alleviate their precarious position.

But with time running out for the club to pull off a miraculous great escape, attentions are increasingly turning towards a return to the Championship, and Merson is adamant that Wilder is the right man to lead United in the second tier.

When asked by host Jeff Stelling whether the Blades should keep their faith in Wilder during an appearance on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday, the former Arsenal man said: “100%. That wouldn’t even come into my mind.

"What that man has done there is absolutely phenomenal.

"He's a top manager and he’s been brilliant. He's got them up to that league. When he went into Sheffield United they were going absolutely nowhere.

"He’s had a year in [the Premier League], it was brilliant. It probably worked against him. It was so good last year – this year they just haven’t been able to get used to it and they’re getting punished.

“What he won’t like is the last goal [against West Ham in midweek]. That’s not Sheffield United.

"No-one closed the ball down, everyone looked like their heads were down, they were beaten. That’s not Sheffield United.

"That will be his pet hate.”