The 'good luck' message that had Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder buzzing

“I got a fabulous ‘good wishes and best of luck card’ from Sir Geoffrey Boycott,” Wilder revealed, ahead of his team’s trip to the AMEX Stadium, where they drew 1-1. “How good is that by the way?

“I know a few of the foreign lads here like Sander (Berge) won’t understand it. But I thought it was brilliant. Michael Vaughan is my pal and so I asked him for Sir Geoff’s address and sent him a letter back, thanking him for taking the time to get in touch and telling him I really appreciated it.”

Two legends of English cricket are not the only unusual sources of support Wilder has discovered in recent weeks as United’s battle to avoid the drop, which took a “small step forward” when despite being reduced to 10 men they held Graham Potter’s side, enters a critical period. Burnley’s Sean Dyche, whose team are also fighting for their lives at the wrong end of the table, has offered words of advice; something Wilder insisted speaks volumes about both the 49-year-old’s character and the camaraderie which exists among England’s football managers.

“Sean has been on the phone and that, for me, tells you all you need to know about him as a person,” Wilder said. “With the situation they are in, albeit better than us, well, I thought that was brilliant too.

“A lot of people would probably think he’d be one of the last people to get in touch, with everything that’s going on. But he wasn’t. He was one of the first. I think it goes to show how we all understand the jobs we are trying to do, even though we all want the best for our own clubs, and the challenges we face at times. We all respect what we have to deal with.”

Dave Bassett, his predecessor at Bramall Lane, is another person Wilder has turned to as he attempts to steer United through the most difficult period of his four year reign which, until the beginning of this season, had produced nothing but success. However, despite finishing ninth last term, only a season after securing promotion from the Championship, United will enter their Boxing Day fixture against Everton at the bottom of the table.

“Sam (Allardyce), I talked with him a few weeks ago,” Wilder said, insisting the former England manager’s appointment by West Bromwich Albion has not altered his belief that United can avoid the drop. “We’ve just got to take care of ourselves as a club, not worry about what is happening elsewhere. I’ve spoken to Sam through this period and he’s been a great help to me through my managerial career. I played for him at Notts County and I have huge respect for him and his record but Sheffield United is my full focus.”