Returning Hull City trio have already set Sheffield United blueprint as Blades lament baffling Oli McBurnie call

Chris Wilder has already long identified the sort of players and characters he wants to bring to Sheffield United in the summer but if a reminder was needed, two or three will walk through the door at Bramall Lane tomorrow. United are preparing for a big summer rebuild when this poor season comes to a welcome end.

Focus is expected to be placed on character as much as ability this summer as Wilder looks to once again refresh the culture of the Blades, feeling it has shifted after a disastrous summer of 2025 saw large parts of it ripped away.

A huge close-season will see a big turnover of players, with as many as 15 leaving as United try to both trim the numbers of Wilder’s squad and refresh the feel of it. The manager has been down this road before at United, memorably helping United into the Premier League in 2018/19.

Four key members of that journey will return to Bramall Lane tomorrow in the colours of Hull City, in striker Oli McBurnie, midfielders Kieran Dowell and John Lundstram and centre-half John Egan. All four have helped the Tigers establish themselves as promotion candidates this season.

McBurnie in particular has been a revelation after signing for the Tigers on a free in the summer, scoring 13 goals and adding seven assists. It makes it even more frustrating that United had him in their grasp in the summer when he left Las Palmas, with the former Scotland international training at Shirecliffe before then-manager Ruben Selles vetoed his signing.

Returning Hull City trio have already set Sheffield United blueprint as Blades left to lament baffling Oli McBurnie decision

“I've got to say, I love all three of them,” Wilder said, of McBurnie, Egan and Lundstram, whose stock isn’t as high amongst Unitedites after his free-transfer exit at the end of United’s second-season Premier League struggle.

“I know Lunny maybe doesn't get the love and maybe the affection that Oli Mac and John do, and should do. But all three were absolute diamonds to work with. I challenged them. They challenged me.

“They were brilliant to work with. Brilliant out on the training ground, in the changing room. They were winners, and want to win. They want to do it the right way. They gave everything for us in their time here.

“I know there was an opportunity [of McBurnie returning to United in the summer. Steve was trying to get him back last pre-season. I think he's scratching his head why that didn't occur. But I’ve gone on too much about that.

“John's recovered from an Achilles injury as well. And he’s back in the Ireland team. He still lives in Sheffield and I speak to him regularly. And Oli's just a boy I love on and off the pitch. And Lunney as well. And I hope they get a great reception before but then it’s game on, as we all know and they understand.”

All three set the standards that Wilder is looking to reach again this summer with a fifth former Blade, midfielder Regan Slater, missing out through injury. “Absolutely, 100 per cent,” he added. “Winners who want to do it right, want to enjoy the football, want to affect people around them.

“Culture carriers, standard setters on everything they do in and around it. And character and personality. We all know what Oli’s like. He's that type of character. They're not robots. But they're great characters.

“And all three of them are playing a major part in Hull City's achievements so far this season and been in and around it, which is a great achievement by the manager and the players. And Regan as well.”