What Jayden Bogle's dramatic rise to prominence can teach Sheffield United's other stars

United are preparing for the Boxing Day visit of Everton five points behind 19th placed West Bromwich Albion and 10 short of safety following a miserable run of form, with last weekend’s draw at Brighton only the second time they have avoided defeat in the competition this term.

Although Wilder has admitted inconsistent selections have contributed to his team’s problems since returning to action in September, he accepts coaching staff have no other option but to continue ringing the changes unless results pick-up. And that, Wilder insisted, should convince those struggling for minutes there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“Players haven’t really grasped places,” he said. “There might be one or two exceptions, but in the ain that’s been the case. They can’t say they need three, four or five games to get up to speed because of the situation we are in. In an ideal world, maybe. But as everybody knows, we aren’t in one of those right now.

“They haven’t been good enough and I clearly haven’t been good enough at my job either, so we all need to improve.”

“There’s chances there for people to stake a claim,” Wilder continued. “To really nail something down and put themselves forward - right in the frame. That’s how they should be viewing things. It’s vital everyone has that attitude because we’re going to need it.”

Jayden Bogle’s rise to prominence ahead of the meeting with Carlo Ancelotti’s side highlights how players previously struggling for exposure can exploit United’s predicament and, by furthering their own ambitions, potentially help their colleagues salvage the campaign. Signed from Derby County during the summer transfer window, the defender had not played a minute of top-flight football since leaving Pride Park and was only named on the bench at the AMEX Stadium because of a recent ruling which expanded the number of substitutes coaching staff are allowed to select. However, with John Lundstram being sent-off after Wilder had already made a series of tactical adjustments, Bogle suddenly found himself being thrust into action - scoring the goal, and almost certainly guaranteeing himself more appearances over the Christmas period, which United thought had delivered their first win of the season until Danny Welbeck equalised during the closing stages.

“That’s what people have got to do, really seize the chance when one comes around,” Wilder said. “You’ve got to be ready at all times, because you never know when one is going to present itself and if you’re not in a position to take it, then what could have been a turning point will pass you by. We’ve all got the grasp the opportunities in front of us.”

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