Star name reveals how Chris Wilder turned Sheffield United into a Premier League force

Captain Billy Sharp has cited Wilder’s faith in those who delivered promotion last term as one of the major factors behind their climb to seventh - only five points outside the Champions League places - before football was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ten of those who started March’s win over Norwich City - United’s last competitive outing - featured under Wilder in the second tier last season, with the 52-year-old choosing not to follow the lead of other sides new to the division by dismantling a successful team.

Asked why his colleagues have made such a smooth transition, Sharp, who was on target when United drew with AFC Bournemouth on the opening weekend, replied: “The continuity. The team hasn’t changed that much since promotion and as individuals and as a team, we’ve raised our game.

“It was about momentum to start with. That was why I was so happy my goal got us something out of the match at Bournemouth, because it gave us something to build on.”

Highlighting January’s defeat at Liverpool as another turning point - United have lost only once in 10 fixtures since - Sharp said: “We got a lesson against Liverpool away but the scoreline (2-0) didn’t reflect that. They are the best team in the world and have the trophies to prove it.

“It was a learning curve for us, it where we had to assess what we didn’t do right and it gave us a little kick up the backside.”

“As a club, we’re all learning from each other,” Sharp, speaking to the Professional Footballers’ Association’s official website, added. “The core of the group have done a lot for each other in the past three years and got each other to where we are now.

“You can always learn every day. It’s what you take out of each day to make you better (that’s important).”

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