Jack O’Connell explains what has changed about Sheffield United from last promotion season

Sheffield United star Jack O’Connell has explained why this promotion will be different from the last.

The Blades are on the verge of sealing a return to the Premier League after a superb season that has seen them reach the FA Cup semi-finals and take full control of second spot in the Championship. There has been no catching Burnley, but United have been the next best thing, establishing a four-point gap over Luton with two games in-hand going into Wednesday night’s clash with West Brom.

A win will mean the Blades are uncatchable, securing promotion with three games still to play of the season.

But this is hardly unfamiliar territory for the Blades, who secured promotion as recently as 2019. O’Connell, who has been at the club since 2016, was part of that promotion, and ahead of the West Brom clash, he explained the difference between the two ascents - working on the assumption United will get over the line.

“It’s got the potential to be an unbelievable night of football for the lads. It’s going to be difficult, but I’ve been in the dressing room and the lads seem calm,” the defender told Sky Sports. “Hopefully we can get the job done.

“I was a bit surprised - the year we went up before, it was based on a lot of emotion because we’d been outside the Premier League for so long. I think there’s a bit of an expectation on the lads at the moment, and they’ve dealt with it well.”