'There is more' - Chris Wilder makes admission about key Sheffield United duo after Watford victory
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder might have seen a glimpse into next season during Saturday’s 2-0 win at Watford.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder believes there is more to come from midfielders Jaïro Riedewald and Joe Rothwell after they impressed in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Watford at Vicarage Road.
After storing 90 minutes under his belt for the first time as a United player against Hull City last weekend, Rothwell kept his place in the starting XI for the third game running for the trip to Hertfordshire.
Unlike against Bristol City and Hull, Rothwell, who joined United from Rangers on deadline day at the very start of February, was joined in the engine room by Riedewald, who banked his first start since the 3-3 draw with Swansea City on Good Friday.
Both Riedewald, who joined the Blades on a free transfer last October, and Rothwell are expected to have key roles to play next season, meaning Wilder, it seems, is keen to start building partnerships that he could rely on next term.
And having helped United clinch their first away win since the end of February, the midfield duo banked credit from the Blades boss for their performances.
Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield: “I thought Jaïro was good, and Joe kept us ticking in the middle of the park. He’s not played a lot of football, Joe, and he just cramped up towards the end.
“He’s had a couple of games now where he’s played a lot of minutes. It is a big pre-season ahead of them. There is more in the tank for them.
“There is more in the tank for Femi [Seriki], Brooksy [Andre Brooks], Harrison [Burrows] and Gus [Hamer] and the boys to be fitter and stronger and more powerful to be going into the second part of the game of feeling strong and being strong.”
Although it was Patrick Bamford that dominated the post-match headlines for scoring twice to seal the points for the Blades, Riedewald and Rothwell equally played important roles in keeping United ticking in midfield.
Both players had a passing accuracy of almost 90 per cent, ensuring they brought control and stability to United’s game. They appeared to compliment each other well, and it is partnerships of that ilk that Wilder will hope to rely on next season.