Sheffield United: Chris Wilder admits he wasn’t surprised that Steve Bruce walked out on Sheffield Wednesday to take charge of Newcastle United in the summer

Bruce was a somewhat surprising choice to take charge of his boyhood club, and left Wednesday after just six months.

Two wins and a draw in their last four games has sent the Magpies four points clear of the drop zone, and they can go level with the Blades in eighth with victory at Bramall Lane.

And Wilder, who worked under Bruce during his time as player/manager at Bramall Lane earlier in his career, admitted: “There was lots of talk in this area about this decision and it was a decision that did not surprise me at all.

"I have talked long and hard about the importance of LMA (League Managers' Association) from a young manager's point of view. And Steve has certainly been there for myself and a lot of new managers.

"Steve is one alongside Sean Dyche, Sam (Allardyce) and other people who pick up the phone to you. I have spoken to him in summer and a quite a number of times.

"He is an experienced manager. You are not just given jobs in the Premier League if you are bang average and Steve isn't bang average as a manager and a person. I speak to him quite regularly and I am certainly not surprised by the job he is doing at Newcastle.

"It is a big, big job and a huge football club and one that needed a big personality and they have certainly got one in Steve."