Have Sheffield United discovered a partnership capable of firing them up the Premier League?

Despite slipping to their fifth defeat in six outings after being beaten by Liverpool, United will enter this weekend’s game against Manchester City with a renewed sense of optimism after impressing both Wilder and his opposite number Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

Although Wilder was particularly impressed with the quality of McBurnie’s performance on Merseyside, describing it as a “proper number nine’s display”, he admitted to also being excited by the potential of the Scotland international’s double act with Brewster - a player Klopp labelled “a natural born goalscorer” before that match.

“Rhian will be the future, of that I’ve got no doubt,” Wilder said, acknowledging the 20-year-old had found it difficult to face his former club less than a month after arriving at Bramall Lane. “We have to get him up and running and that was his first opportunity to start for us, against his old club, which I think everyone can understand is a weird situation - particularly for someone his age.”

“I thought that was a proper number nine’s display from Oli,” Wilder added. “He gave everything out there and caused their defence real problems throughout, putting himself on the line time and time again.

“That will be a decent partnership, I believe. But there are others also determined to get in.”

Wilder introduced David McGoldrick and Oliver Burke during the second-half of a contest which saw goals from Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota cancel-out Sander Berge’s early penalty. Burke in particular impressed, troubling Liverpool’s defence with some powerful runs which, after recovering from injury, could put him in the frame to start against City; although he will have been disappointed not to at least hit the target after finding himself in space on the edge of the box late on. Billy Sharp, an unused substitute against the reigning champions, will prepare for City’s visit only one goal short of a century of league strikes in United colours.

“That was much more like it from us,” Wilder said. “We’re disappointed but the lads should take so much heart from how they went about things. There were good signs and good performances.”

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