So why hasn't Rhian Brewster featured more for Sheffield United?

Despite becoming the most expensive purchase in the club’s history after completing a £23.5m move from Liverpool in October, 11 of Brewster’s 18 Premier League appearances for United have come from the bench with the youngster failing to appear altogether during last weekend’s defeat by his former club.

Although Wilder has refused to elaborate on why the England under-21 international has not featured more, insisting he will explain “when the time is right” following a result which left his team 15 points adrift of safety with only 12 games remaining, he has confirmed Brewster is set for more exposure ahead of tomorrow’s game against Aston Villa.

“Rhi will get more game time between now and the end,” Wilder said. “I know Rhi is frustrated at the moment. But that's a decision I’ve had to make.

“Everything I do, I think it’s best for the football club. It’s never personal. And I make the decisions, always, for the football club. He just has to keep working hard and opportunities will come his way.

“And he’ll take those opportunities. He’s a good young player.”

Despite being portrayed as the immediate solution to United’s goal scoring problems when he arrived in South Yorkshire, Wilder later attempted to position Brewster as a player he always suspected would require “developing” as they slid deeper into trouble.

Although that represents an attempt to shield the centre-forward from some of the pressure beginning to engulf United’s squad, failing to utilise him more now their fate has effectively been sealed would serve the opposite purpose. Particularly as Brewster, who netted 11 times during a spell on loan in the Championship with Swansea City last term, needs to build partnerships and increase his understanding of United’s tactics in order to prospect next season.

“Everything we do is for a reason,” Wilder said. “We learn from everything in order to try and become better.”

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