'We shouldn't be near here' - Chris Wilder's buzzing after Sheffield United's 'best win yet' against Wolves

Egan, scoring for the second time in as many games, pounced in the 93rd minute of a contest which United had dominated after the interval.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s meeting with fourth placed Chelsea, Wilder again downplayed suggestions his side should be regarded as genuine contenders for a place in Europe next term. But he made no attempt to disguise his delight at the result against the visitors from Molineux - labelling it as a “deserved reward” for United’s “sheer persistence and will to win.”

“We’ve never felt anything is within our grasp,” Wilder said, responding to a question about United’s prospects of qualifying for either the Europa or the Champions League. “We only look to the next game.

“We shouldn’t be where we are but we are in this position because we take defeats on the chin and then look to bounce back. I know the fixture list we’ve got coming up and I don’t really want to think about it.”

After this weekend’s meeting with the former European champions, United face third-placed Leicester City and Everton before concluding the rescheduled campaign with a trip to Southampton.

Reflecting upon the display against Wolves, who remain in sixth, Wilder added: “I’ve got the privilege of being a Sheffield United fan and being Sheffield United manager. I’ve got to say, though, that if I was a Sheffield United fan sat in the pub watching that then I’d have been really proud of what I saw out there from my team.

“The drive and desire we showed, against one of the stand out teams in the division for me, was second to none.”

After admitting his squad has been stretched by injuries in recent weeks, Wilder expressed his belief that David McGoldrick could be available for selection against Chelsea after missing the meeting with Wolves because of a foot complaint.

Wilder also confirmed Oli McBurnie had been withdrawn early in the second period because of fatigue, meaning he should also be fit to face Frank Lampard’s men.

“Didzy, it’s not serious, so we’ll assess that,” Wilder said. “We’re hopeful he’ll be okay. Oli was just tired and leggy, which is expected to because of what he puts in. There are a lot of tired bodies out there.”

Jack O’Connell returned to the side last night and looked to come through unscathed. John Fleck and Luke Freeman remain on the sidelines but are closing in on a return to the squad.

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