Why Carney is the latest wizard of Oz

The 23-year-old was a stand-out performer in Australia's 0-1 defeat in Tuesday's friendly against Argentina in front of over 71,000 fans in Melbourne.

Carney was given the unenviable task of man-marking Argentina superstar Lionel Messi, but the Blades new boy performed admirably with a superb sliding tackle to thwart the Barcelona playmaker in the first-half, and in the second he mesmerised two Argentina defenders before attempting to chip the goalkeeper with a shot which narrowly missed the upright.

"Messi is by far the best player I have played against," Carney said.

"It was probably the biggest challenge of my career to mark him but I think I adapted quite well.

"In matches like this you either sink or swim but I am getting more confident."

Carney believes he is now restored to full match-fitness and is raring to go for the Blades in the Championship at home to Wolves on Saturday.

"I want to do well for Sheffield United because we haven't had the best of starts," he said.

"Against Argentina I played against some of the best players in the world so if I can do that then hopefully I can do the same for Sheffield United.

"I might be a bit jet lagged but hopefully United manager Brian Robson doesn't look too much into it but it's his decision and hopefully he will pick me against Wolves."