Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder reveals why Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin had to leave Bramall Lane

Calvert-Lewin, who progressed through the youth system at Bramall Lane before joining Everton four years ago, is expected to spearhead the visitors’ attack when Carlo Ancelotti’s side travel to South Yorkshire tomorrow night.

Now aged 23, Calvert-Lewin is being tipped as a future England international after scoring 15 goals in 39 appearances so far this term and is among a host of Steelphalt Academy graduates United were forced to sell in order to build the squad Wilder has twice led to promotion.

Although he conceded funds generated by selling the likes of Calvert-Lewin, Aaron Ramsdale and David Brooks - who both moved to AFC Bournemouth - allowed him to sign the likes of John Egan and Jack O’Connell, Wilder said: “I would have loved us to be in that situation now, where we have the likes of Brooksy, Rammers and Dom. But it was what it was at the time, you have to move on and we have done.

“We would love Dom to still be a Sheffield United player, although I’m not sure he would be because he’s taken enormous strides. He’s a lovely kid and I’m delighted in terms of what he’s done in his career.

“I know he’s a massive United fan and I know how much our club means to him. But he had to look after himself and his career when he was here. When the Premier League comes knocking, and you aren’t in it which we weren’t at the time, you really can’t do anything about it. And it might sound daft, but the money we for for three or four players then was hugely important.”

United were still in League One when, only two months after Wilder’s appointment, Calvert-Lewin made the switch to Merseyside. The 52-year-old’s immediate predecessor Nigel Adkins was the first to truly recognise the striker’s potential, with nine of his 12 appearances for United coming during the former Southampton chief’s reign, although Wilder helped nurture Calvert-Lewin after signing him on loan at his previous club Northampton Town.

“I thought it was brave of him to go out on loan and get his hands dirty, which he certainly did,” Wilder said. “He’s a modern day centre-forward, he defends from the front, he’s athletic and he’s technically brave and strong. Plus the goals he’s got is a huge achievement in this division for a young player.

“He runs down the sides, he gets in the box and he ticks all of the boxes for a modern centre-forward, so it’s just a shame he’s not playing in the red and white stripes of United because he would have been a huge asset to us.”

United began preparing for the match in eighth, eight points ahead of Everton in the table and still in the hunt for a European spot.

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