Sheffield United receive a boost ahead of visit to Old Trafford

Wilder, whose starting eleven has been ravaged by injuries this season, will enter this week’s game against Manchester United without a number of senior players; including Sander Berge and Jack O’Connell, who earlier this week suffered a set-back in his battle to recover from knee surgery.

Oli McBurnie and Ben Osborn are also doubts after sitting-out Argyle’s visit. But Wilder, whose side face Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea following the meeting with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team, said: “Everyone came through okay, so that’s good news. There’s nothing new to report on that count, which is pleasing because we’ve got enough out already as it is.”

After being forced to name a depleted bench in recent weeks because of fitness issues behind the scenes, Wilder was able to select a full complement of substitutes when Plymouth made the journey north after including Iliman Ndiaye among United’s replacements. Aged 20, Ndiaye was born in Rouen, France, but moved to South Yorkshire two years ago following a spell with Boreham Wood. The attacking midfielder owed his presence on the bench to a series of impressive displays at under-23 level, scoring six goals in 11 starts this term.

“We’ve got 18 fit (senior) players so I wanted to push him through and enjoy that experience,” Wilder said. “Hopefully he has done and he’ll have picked up a lot from being around the group.

“Don’t under-estimate how difficult it is for these lads to make the step up, and that’s no slant on our academy, which is different to others in the division.”

Antwoine Hackford and Kyron Gordon have also been promoted through the ranks this month, and Wilder added: “We will keep working away and trying to produce good young players. It’s a big step up and the difference in levels is huge. But that’s what we’re trying to do and it will teach these lads a lot to be around the first team boys, seeing what they do.”

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