Sheffield United: The secret weapon John Lundstram and The Blades will take into the game against Manchester United

But as they prepare for Sunday's encounter with Ole Gunnar Solskjær's team, there is a suspicion that Sheffield United's most effective weapon could be something many footballing professionals tend to overlook: Regional rivalries.

"If we do put in a performance and beat them, there will be a lot of happy people in my city," John Lundstram, one of two Liverpudlians who could feature for United tomorrow, admitted. "Funnily enough, I was listening to a podcast the other day and the people on it were saying 'Nobody likes Manchester United unless you actually support them.' It's one where, growing up in Liverpool, you can't deny the rivalry. But I like it, it comes with football. And it's like our city, where you're either us or (Sheffield) Wednesday. It's great and you can never lose that."

Like his fellow Scouser Jack O'Connell, Lundstram is a dyed-in-the-wool Red. The two remain frequent visitors to Anfield where a dislike of anything or anyone connected to Old Trafford is deeply ingrained. But Lundstram and O'Connell are not the only players at United's disposal who understand how the battle for supremacy in the North-West of England resonates at either end of the East Lancs Road. Phil Jagielka, who will start at centre-half if John Egan fails a fitness test, spent 12 years in Liverpool with Everton while Mo Besic, the Bosnia and Herzegovina midfielder, is on loan from Goodison Park.

Despite struggling for opportunities as United were promoted from the Championship last season, Lundstram has been an ever-present in the Premier League this term. Manager Chris Wilder confirmed the subject of a new contract for the 25-year-old was raised during his recent meeting with Bramall Lane's hierarchy in Dubai.

"To begin with, it was just about taking it in my stride and believing that I belonged here," Lundstram said. "But the belief is growing, we are going into it full of confidence. Growing up I was a Liverpool fan. For any Scouser, the rivalry between Manchester and Liverpool is always a big one."

"I'm just playing my football," he continued. "If that comes my way (a contract), then I'd be delighted."

Unbeaten in five, United entered the international break fifth in the table; two places and a point above Solskjær's team. Given the spotlight on his colleagues following their rapid rise through the divisions - United were a third tier club when Wilder was appointed in May 2016 - Lundstram also views this weekend's match as a chance to strike a blow for Sheffield as whole. Despite being the cradle of the modern game, shaping its laws and spawning a number of other 'firsts', its contribution to the sport is often overlooked by the national media, who focus on Manchester, London and Lundstram's home city instead.

"It’s funny, everyone asks me about the city and I say it is just like ours back home, it’s a working-class city and a real football city," he said, drawing comparisons between the two. "We go out there on Sunday and if we get a result I’m sure it would really put us on the map."

"I think this one is extra special, yes," Lundstram added. "You do look at these games, against some of the biggest teams in the world. We'll live in the moment and hopefully we can keep it going. It will be a full house at Bramall Lane and so who knows what might happen. The manager won't let us have any fear."