Sheffield United's Billy Sharp has proved himself a great leader and captain

Sharp has been a key figure in the dressing room over the past 10 weeks, organising get togethers for his team mates on social media and helping PFA delegate Simon Moore canvass opinion on ‘Project Restart’.

Revealing his players have not enjoyed a gentle return to training after the Steelphalt Academy was cleared to begin hosting small-sided sessions last week - “They’ve been tough” - Wilder said: “To a man, the boys have shown tremendous desire. They’ve been led brilliantly by the skipper too.”

Sharp, aged 34, endured a frustrating start to the campaign after helping United gain promotion last term. But the centre-forward had regained his place in the starting eleven when the season was mothballed, with United seventh in the table, two months ago.

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