The message Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has delivered to his other strikers as Rhian Brewster prepares to be unleashed on the Premier League

Brewster, who became the most expensive player in United’s history when he completed his £23.5m move from Liverpool earlier this month, is poised to make his debut for Wilder’s side when Fulham visit Bramall Lane on Sunday lunchtime.

Despite acknowledging the financial challenges facing United due to a series of controversial social distancing measures introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Wilder persuaded their board of directors to pay a club record fee for the 20-year-old after watching his team draw a blank in their first three outings of the new top-flight campaign.

Although David McGoldrick was on target during the recent 2-1 defeat at Arsenal, United will enter this weekend’s meeting with Scott Parker’s side searching for their first win since thrashing Chelsea in July - meaning Brewster is likely to be immediately thrust into the firing line rather than eased gently into action.

“We are always trying to bring better players into the group,” Wilder said. “And that’s not disrespectful to the players who are already here, because that’s exactly why we brought them here as well.

“We need options up there, because we play with two up top. That means we can’t go with just two (centre-forwards) all the way through a season, or even three, because if we lose a couple through injury or whatever, it would mean we’d have to change everything we do.

“I’ve got absolute faith in what the lads here can do. They’ve got the ability and they’ve got the right attitude too. That’s why I’m backing them to come through this, because I know they care too.”

After withdrawing from international duty with England under-21’s, Brewster has spent the past week working on his fitness at the Steelphalt Academy ahead of the clash with Fulham - which has been rescheduled for pay-per-view purposes.

“I’m thankful for the backing the owners have given me,” Wilder, who brought eight new faces to United during the recent PL transfer window, continued. “I genuinely appreciate it, because I know we don’t have the ability to go out there and just sign cheques without having to worry about the cost or the amount. That’s not a criticism, it’s an observation of where we are as a club. So that’s why I appreciate what they’ve done.”

Although United have explored the possibility of recruiting another defender before Friday’s deadline for deals with teams in the English Football League - Terence Kongolo of Huddersfield Town being Wilder’s preferred option - they are also exploring “in-house” solutions to the problem caused by Jack O’Connell’s knee injury. Jack Robinson, previously of Nottingham Forest, remains the only left-footed centre-half at Wilder’s disposal after O’Connell was forced to undergo surgery last month.

“The question I always ask myself at times like this,” Wilder said, referencing United’s slow start to the season, “Is ‘Is the group acting together?’ They are. It isn’t fragmented. And that tells me that they really care and want the best for us.”

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