Why former Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock believes his old club can continue to be a Premier League hit

United can move back up to fifth place if they beat West Ham United in front of the Sky Sports cameras at Bramall Lane on Friday evening.

And Warnock is confident they can consolidate their position because opposition sides have yet to master Chris Wilder’s unique overlapping centre-backs system.

“He's got a system which he played in (the Championship) and nobody knows how to play against it,” said Warnock, who was co-presenting the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast on talkSPORT today.

“Occasionally somebody like Manchester United (in the 3-3 draw in November) will have 10 minutes where they'll break it down and score two or three goals, but in general it is such a great system.

"He came up with this system and nobody in England does it. I think it's unbelievable.

"Away from home and at home, the football is super. They've got players in that team that, if you look at them, you think 'how have they got in the team?'

“But not only are they in the team but they're very, very good Premier League players now, these lads. All credit to them.”

United have lost their last two league games against Manchester City and Liverpool, but Warnock says the Blades will soon return to winning ways and even believes they can build on this year’s achievements next season.

“They only need seven or eight points to be safe,” said Warnock, who managed United from 1999 to 2007.

“They will stay up there, that's the thing. Everybody thought it's that bit of luck you get (but it isn’t).

"I'm interested to see how they'll get find out. The way they play, other teams don't have a system to stop it really.

“The second year is always the most difficult, but I don't think you should worry about that too much if you're Chris. You've just got to enjoy the moment. The fans, the same. Home and away they know they're going to give them a good game and it's great for the club and the city.”