Chris Wilder favourite ready for welcome return to Sheffield United

One of Chris Wilder’s favourite Sheffield United players makes a return to Bramall Lane this weekend, for the first time since departing last summer.

Enda Stevens made over 200 appearances for the Blades before injury caught up with him a little and he left the club at the expiry of his contract as the Blades were promoted to the Premier League again under Paul Heckingbottom.

It was his second involvement in taking United into the top flight but the first one was a lot more memorable as he played such a pivotal role in promotion and then taking Wilder’s side into the higher reaches of the division as part of that now legendary marauding backline of George Baldock, Chris Basham, John Egan, Jack O’Connell and Stevens.

“One of my favorite players in that period in the Premier League. I thought he was the best left back, left wing back in the Premier League, in that period,” admitted Wilder ahead of Stoke’s trip to Bramall Lane.

“I had him at Northampton on loan from Villa, had a few words with him when I sent him back to Villa that he needs to liven himself up and smarten himself up, and he certainly did that at Portsmouth... player of the year, two or three times under [Paul Cook], couple of promotions.

“Got him on a free transfer and an incredible, outstanding servant for Sheffield United, good character as well, good boy, really like his personality and his contribution to that period will not go amiss by our supporters.”