Sheffield United: Chris Wilder reveals Newcastle United's threats; says Leicester City dispelled a big footballing myth

Newcastle, tipped by many to struggle in the Premier League this season, are four points clear of the drop zone at this stage, and will actually go level in the table with the Blades if they win at Bramall Lane tonight.

The presence of Steve Bruce in the opposition dugout gives the fixture a little extra spice, given the Newcastle boss’s background in charge of both the Blades and their rivals, Wednesday.

And Wilder, speaking at his pre-match press conference this morning, said: “They’re tough and hard to beat. They play a system that Steve has settled into and it’s got them results. It’s been effective.

“I imagine we’ll have more of the ball than we have done in our games so far but people talk about possession, and there’s a school of thought that if you have more of the ball, you have a better chance of winning.

“But in certain ways that gets blown out the water when Leicester City won the division the other year with 40 percent possession.

“They [Newcastle] play to their strengths; pace down the wides and the middle, an outstanding footballer in Jonjo Shelvey in the middle of the park and set up in a way that suits them.

“They can go level with us with three points. It’ll be a tight game – results got have been earned, not given and deserved.”