Sheffield United manager's key message ahead of Norwich clash

Demonstrating a spin doctor’s talent for influencing the agenda, the Sheffield United manager uses questions often pertaining to completely unrelated subjects to illustrate the point he wants to make.

His latest pre-match briefing, ahead of Saturday’s game against Norwich City, was no exception. Wilder’s answers to queries about the possibility of qualifying for Europe and Enda Stevens’ fitness were peppered with references to how talented, albeit unlucky, the visitors are. City, he was reminding, must not be taken lightly.

“There are some difficult obstacles in front of us and a very difficult one coming up,” Wilder said, after being invited to discuss United’s fixture schedule between now and the end of the campaign. “We know how tough this match is going to be, it was always going to be tough.

“I have a huge amount of respect for Daniel (Farke, the Norwich manager) and his work.”

United and City have experienced markedly different fortunes since gaining promotion from the Championship last term. Farke’s side - “The best in the division,” Wilder reminded - went up after winning the title but now find themselves battling for survival. Meanwhile the 52-year-old’s squad, after finishing second, are eighth and only five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

The reason, Wilder suspects, relates to their contrasting fitness records. While he used the January transfer window to strengthen an already settled group, Farke found himself wondering how to plug the gaps created by a spate of injuries.

“We know them close up,” Wilder said. “Their team has been disrupted by injuries. We, fortunately, haven’t had that.

“I was listening to Harry Redknapp, saying how we think we all have the answers tactically and in terms of man-management. But if you lose your best players, as Daniel has, it makes it doubly difficult.”

On paper, this weekend’s fixture appears a relatively routine assignment for United, who have won five and drawn eleven of their 11 outings since triumphing 2-1 at Carrow Road in December. Noting how City beat Leicester last week - “One of the stand out teams in the competition,” he reminded - Wilder explained it is precisely the predicament Farke’s men find themselves in which makes them dangerous.

“Norwich, have been consistent in their performances,” he said. “It’s just such fine lines in this division. They are dangerous. Two wins and they are bang among the teams that are above them.”

“Everybody wants to be in the Premier League,” he added. “They will be doing everything in their power to stay.”

United, who expect to welcome Stevens back from a calf complaint, received a taste of that desire in their last top-flight outing when Brighton, without a victory this year, dug-in to secure a 1-1 draw.

With fellow high-flyers Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Manchester United and Leicester featuring on United’s agenda between now and May, Wilder said: “We're up against fantastic teams and managers. That little home run we’ve got, they all want to achieve.

“We’re not going to have it all our own way. Norwich is going to be as tough as it comes.”