Kalvin Phillips believes Sheffield United have a “great group of leaders” but admits the squad must communicate more as the Blades look to turn improved performances into results after a difficult run.

Kalvin Phillips has called on the rest of Sheffield United's “leaders” to communicate more as the Blades look to use the international break to reset after a difficult run of results.

United entered the long three-week hiatus on the back of a fourth defeat in five games in all competitions, with Saturday's 2-1 loss at Stoke City following the midweek Carabao Cup exit at Fleetwood Town.

But boss Chris Wilder insists that their record could easily be very different, believing that there would be no surprises had the Blades taken maximum points from their last two league games against Wolves and Stoke.

Small details have cost them in both, with two stunning strikes helping settle the game in Stoke’s favour on Saturday after Phillips’ clever free-kick caught out Viktor Johansson to give United a precious lead.

And the former England international believes United’s squad has enough leadership to find a way through this spell, and feels the performances in the last two league games have represented a step forward.

“I think we've got a great group of leaders,” he said. “I think we just need to communicate a little bit more on and off the pitch.

“I feel like over the last couple of weeks after the Wolves game and then the midweek game, we've spoken a lot about our performances and what we need to do better.

“And I think the last two league games have been a step up for us. We'll keep fighting, we'll keep going and hopefully the results will turn for us.”

Phillips believes the international break provides an opportunity for the squad to reset before returning to action next month against newly-promoted Lincoln City at Bramall Lane.

“It's back to the drawing board,” he said. “We've got two weeks to relax and then come back fighting and ready to go.”