Every Sheffield United player rated so far this season with five earning top marks but work to do for others
Michael Cooper, Kalvin Phillips and Sydie Peck have been among the standout performers as Sheffield United have turned their season around, but not everyone has enjoyed the same success. A third of the way through, we assess every member of Chris Wilder's squad and hand out their grades so far...
Sheffield United’s season so far has been a story of recovery, with Chris Wilder’s side gradually finding their feet after a difficult start and beginning to look more like a team capable of challenging towards the top end of the Championship. They went into the international break just two points off the play-offs.
Victory at Charlton before the international break would have taken them into the top eight but stiffer tests await after the break, with many games against the clubs immediately around them in the table.
There have been some significant individual contributors along the way, with the likes of Michael Cooper, Kalvin Phillips and Sydie Peck emerging as key figures in the revival. Others have found opportunities harder to come by, while injuries have disrupted the campaigns of several members of the squad.
With the season now well underway, it’s time to take stock of how the Sheffield United squad has performed so far. We’ve run the rule over every player to have featured, handing out a report card based on their contribution, consistency and impact in a United shirt. Who has earned top marks, and who still has plenty to prove?
Michael Cooper A
The United No.1 gets a little frustrated by talk of him being back to his best this season, as it highlights him falling below his levels last term. But a return to full fitness has seen him transformed, with key saves keeping United in games at key times. Probably the player of the season so far, for me
Matt Doherty D
The veteran arrived in the summer with a brief to put pressure on Seriki but he's only played five times, and hasn't been able to get himself fit since last featuring in that season lowpoint of defeat away at Fleetwood. Still time to turn it around, especially with Seriki out, but it's not been a great start
Sam McCallum C
McCallum is a very capable option at left-back but as soon as Burrows returned from injury he was straight back into the side at left-back and McCallum has been restricted to cameo appearances off the bench to help the Blades see games out
Oliver Arblaster C
A similar story to McCallum in that he has been restricted to a supporting role for large parts of the season. The high point was undoubtedly a superb goal at Bristol City, which earned him the goal of the month award, but Phillips and Peck seem to have nailed down their midfield places
Japhet Tanganga B
You still feel at times that there's a rick not far away in the United skipper but he's played every game this season and leads the United side in a lot of key defensive metrics. Also filled in at right-back when needed and will hope to add a few more goals in the rest of the season
Joe Rothwell C
The former Rangers man started the season in midfield but lost his place after the Fleetwood debacle and has only been seen a couple of times since, before his progress was derailed further by a groin injury in the warm-up v Wrexham which has forced him to go under the knife
Hamza Choudhury B
A midfielder by trade but Choudhury has had to hold down the fort at right-back for most of the season so far, and has done so admirably. He doesn't have the attacking thrust of Seriki but defensively he will let few people down and goes about his work with the minimum of fuss
Tom Cannon C
Four goals at this stage isn't the worst return for the striker, although he also leaves you with the impression there is more to get out of him - whether that comes from within or from United playing to his strengths a bit more. When they do get him in behind, he showed he can finish
Jordan Ayew C
A first goal in United colours at Charlton on Saturday is a welcome boost for the veteran forward, who signed after the transfer window closed as a replacement for Callum O'Hare and was used sparingly as he got up to speed following a summer without a club. He's done a job and has looked a useful option so far
Romelle Donovan A
Cards on the table - I'm a fan. There are things in his game he can improve on, of course, but he offers United a threat they don't really have elsewhere in the squad and you can see defenders visibly panic when he squares them up one-on-one. Doesn't shirk his defensive duties, either. I like watching him play football
Harrison Burrows B
Another to have suffered his share of injury frustration this season but the rating is based on his performances since he returned to the side, when he became an instant ever-present and offered United a different threat down the left. Defensively he is tested at times, like at Charlton on Saturday, but his left foot is superb
Liam Kitching A
Another player I've really enjoyed watching in United colours. You can just tell sometimes when someone 'gets' what it means to play for this football club and Kitching is in that category. It's not just smashing into tackles either - although he isn't shy on that front either. It's his quality on the ball, too. A future United skipper if they can sign him permanently
Jamie Shackleton F
Tough to really justify marking him any higher after a torrid time with injuries, both this season and over the course of his United career. Wilder has been consistent in his message that no player wants to be injured, but also believes the best ability is availability. And Shackleton has simply not been available enough
Tahith Chong B
In the summer he looked odds-on to be on the way out of the Lane after a poor debut season but he has to some extent turned his career around at United, for a time keeping Donovan out of the side and of late being played in tandem with him. Offers a threat down the right but is very reliant on his left foot, which sometimes risks him becoming a tad predictable
Ben Brereton Diaz C
There have been some decent moments from the Chilean international, including a first goal of his third Blades spell to beat Wrexham, but there have also been spells where he's flattered to deceive out on the left. He's looked better, for me, since being moved more central and it'll be interesting to see if Wilder concurs
Tyrese Campbell D
Just two starts all season in the league tells its own story for a player who almost fired United to the Premier League just two summers ago. But a lot seems to have changed in that time, with Campbell now reduced to the odd cameo off the bench and understandably looking devoid of confidence after one goal in his last 36 games
Mark McGuinness D
Started the season in the side out of necessity and lost his place when Kitching arrived, at which point United looked a lot more defensively solid. He's done a job when called upon but also has obvious weaknesses that teams try to exploit. Reasonable back up but a £5m player?
Kalvin Phillips A
United had to bide their time in getting the Man City loanee up to speed but it has been worth the wait, with the former England international transforming the midfield with both his composure and his class. Playing consistently, apart from missing Preston away with an ankle injury, is a huge boost for him personally as well
Femi Seriki C
A decent start, a knee issue, a long-awaited return of cameos to get up to speed and then another knee issue which prematurely ended his season. That's been the story of Seriki's campaign, as he faces up to a long spell on the sidelines and United go back to the drawing board in terms of how to cope without him
Sydie Peck A
A remarkable first-half hat-trick is without doubt the high point of his season but even beyond that, Peck has shown at times why he is one of the most coveted young midfielders in the division. His statistics highlight what a key part of this United side he is, and the eye test backs it up too. A big player
Jairo Riedewald C
Another who's done a job when required but hasn't been able to consistently force his way in or, when given a chance, grab it with both hands and make himself undroppable. It doesn't help when you're in the most fiercely contested area of the United squad, admittedly
Patrick Bamford B
I've no doubt that his mark would be higher had he not missed United's recent games with a shoulder injury he sustained while scoring against Derby last month. He offers a different dimension entirely to United's attack, which has lacked a real focal point without him. His return should be next weekend but can't come soon enough