Sheffield United won't get carried away despite impressive season, warns defender John Egan

John Egan (R) with his Sheffield United team mate and fellow Irishman Enda Stevens

But the Republic of Ireland international warned United's top-flight rivals that the Blades are not getting carried away after confounding pre-season predictions of doom to finish ninth in the league table.

"It's been a brilliant season," Egan admitted. "We always want more and to finish higher but it's been amazing. Everyone took their game to the next level and we grew as a team and a football club.

"The next challenge is the next game and try and keep getting better.

"One thing about us is we don't look too far ahead, whether it's a year down the line or a month or two weeks.

"We look at the next game. The lads have set the standards, the manager sets them every day and we have to meet them.

"Every game is a chance to win three points and we don't look past the next game. I think that's all you can do."

Egan also finished the season in decent goalscoring touch, after scoring twice in successive games against Burnley and Wolves to earn United four points in their pursuit of European football.

"I finally got there in the end," said Egan, whose last goal before his clinical finish at Burnley came in August 2018.

"I should probably have got a few more but it's better late than never. It's something I need to have in my game, being a threat from corners, and I'm glad it paid off."

Egan was the only one of United's three first-choice central defenders to score all season, while wing-backs George Baldock and Enda Stevens also chipped in with a couple apiece over the course of the campaign.

One of Stevens', a stunning strike at home to Brighton, was named United's goal of the season.

"I haven't scored many goals in my career and not many like that," Stevens admitted. "So I was happy to get it.

"I just wish I could have enjoyed it a bit more... I think we conceded about five minutes later!"

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