The one area where Sheffield United must improve in order to enhance their chances of reaching the Champions League

Seventh in the table and unbeaten in six - a run which had also seen them reach the FA Cup quarter-finals - the decision to suspend the fixture programme could not have come at a more awkward time for a team which had been gathering momentum in the race for European football.

“It’s going to be tough to keep it because so much has changed,” midfielder Ben Osborn acknowledged earlier this week, referring to the rich vein of form his team mates had discovered before Covid-19 intervened. “We’ve got to treat what’s left like a mini-season. This is an opportunity we don’t want to pass up.”

In order to seize the chance they have created for themselves by winning 11 and drawing 10 of their opening 28 games this term, United must burst out of the blocks from a standing start following their three month long break. Regarded by many as certainties to be relegated after being promoted last term, this is a squad which exceeds expectations and sets new standards. One suspects they will have to maintain that habit in order to secure entry into either the Champions or Europa leagues.

Contrary to popular belief, the situation English football finds itself in at present is not without precedent. Seventy-three years ago, as the nation emerged from the shadow of World War Two, a vicious chill made competition impossible for over a month. The situation was further complicated by the fact that, when the Government recommended the campaign was halted, Blackpool had played 34 times and United only 26. When it was eventually brought-out of mothballs, leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers surrendered their four point advantage and Liverpool snatched the title. United, for the record, finished sixth.

The best modern comparison of how clubs fare following long periods of inactivity is analysing their performances at the start of a new season. Despite their remarkable achievements under Chris Wilder, lifting the League One title in 2017 before climbing out of the second tier only two years later, United have sometimes taken a while to rediscover their rhythm. Taking an average of only 0.3 points per game from their opening three outings en route to their first promotion under Wilder, they finished with a figure of 2.17. This compares to 1.0 and 1.5 in 2017/18, 1.0 and 1.9 in 2018/19 and 1.3 and 1.54 so far this term. United are clearly a team who like to build up speed. That is not a luxury they will enjoy now. Over the past four seasons, United average 0.92 points per game from their first three matches. Wolves, Manchester United and Chelsea - the clubs they must overhaul in order to secure a place in the Champions League - boast figures of 1.58, 2.08 and 2.42 respectively.

Although these figures would usually make unpleasant reading for United, who are only five points behind Frank Lampard’s men having played a match less than the Londoners, they must be considered in context. Wilder overhauled the options at his disposal after taking charge, meaning his squad inevitably took time to settle. There were also big changes 12 months later. But over the past two summers, when United’s recruitment policy has become more surgical, so their starts have improved.

“Most of the lads here have come through the divisions together,” Oli McBurnie, a summer signing from Swansea City, explained recently. “That’s made everyone really close. They know how they play, they know what they’re doing and that’s something those of us who came in had to get used to - the system. We’ve done that now and we were welcomed straight into the group.”

Results after international breaks also suggest United must hit the ground running like never before when they travel to Villa Park on June 17 - where they will encounter opponents fighting for their lives at the other end of the table. After the first this season, they averaged exactly a point per game from their next three league outings. A month later, in October, that number rose to 2.3 before falling to 0.6 in November - returning a total figure of 1.33. By the same measure, Wolves average 1.55 following the last three international breaks - more than Manchester United in fifth (1.44), but less than fourth-placed Chelsea (2.0).

United, however, will view this as a challenge. And, if Manchester City fail to win their appeal against a two year suspension from European competition, finishing fifth will be enough to qualify for the CL. It must also be noted that Wolves and Chelsea must both still visit Bramall Lane, while United’s scheduled visit to Old Trafford could yet be switched to a neutral venue. United have already secured draws at Molineux and Stamford Bridge, and also took a point from their meeting with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, despite being denied the services of their goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

“Attitude is going to be so important,” Wilder insisted, when ‘Project Restart’ was implemented. “And these lads have shown, time and time again, that they’ve got plenty of it. They don’t want to settle for what they’ve got. They have that mentality to keep on driving forward and keep on pushing.”

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