Sheffield United: Changes are on the way

Thursday’s home game against Newcastle is the second of three games United are scheduled to play within the space of seven days, sandwiched in between their trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers and this weekend’s clash with Norwich City.

Although Wilder has been reluctant to change his starting eleven of late, he said: “It is a huge part of the season and recovery and preparation is huge. One of the things we have talked about in the Premier League is the intensity of it. Obviously it isn’t Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday like the Championship. But it still feels just as intense and that is obviously going to ramp up now in terms of the games coming thick and fast.”

Wilder has spoken in the past about the physical nature of top-flight football, insisting it is now more demanding than competing in the EFL. Although United appear to have made a successful transition - they finished the 1-1 draw at Molineux ranked seventh, only seven months after being promoted from the Championship - Wilder and his staff are also aware of the psychological demands being placed upon their players. Mental fatigue could, if it is allowed to creep in, see United become more careless and less able to follow the strategies Wilder and his assistant Alan Knill employ.

Suggesting this could force changes to United’s selection policy, Wilder has placed the likes of Billy Sharp, Callum Robinson and Oli McBurnie on stand-by ahead of the meeting with Steve Bruce’s side. All three have started on the bench in the Black Country, although Robinson and McBurnie, United’s record signing, were introduced during the closing stages.

“The likes of Oli, Callum and Billy and all of the other boys have got to be ready to go in terms of injuries and suspensions,” Wilder said. “Like I say, this is a huge part of the season and every single game is massive. But we are looking at this current period, to see if we can keep picking up points and keep our run going. Then we’re into the New Year and that goes super quick.”

Although John Lundstram avoided the caution which would have ruled him out of the meeting with Newcastle, John Fleck and George Baldock are now also only a booking away from automatic suspension after receiving yellow cards at Wolves. Potentially losing two midfielders could see Mo Besic thrust into action, while Luke Freeman will also come into contention should either Fleck, Lundstram or both be banned.

“It is important we go into that (the New Year) with a healthy total,” Wilder said. “And that’s what we’ll be looking to do.”