Why Sheffield United's 2019/20 Premier League season deserves to be remembered - whether it falls victim to coronavirus or not

But how Chris Wilder and his players have locked horns with the Premier League's big guns, and not looked out of place in any game except perhaps one, against the runaway leaders, deserves to be remembered.

As does, according to one member of Wilder's squad, the relationship between fans, players and manager.

"Some of the boys were telling me that the connection with the players is the best it's been for a long, long time," striker Oli McBurnie said.

"That's something I'm very proud of. And I'll always be thankful for the connection - the fans have been unbelievable with me since I signed.

"They could have turned on me at the start because I wasn't performing, and United had spent a lot of money on me.

"It would have been easy to turn but they didn't, and I'd like to think I've started repaying that with performances and a few goals as well."

United's quest for Europe has been put on hold, with the Premier League suspended until April at the earliest due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Many theories about how the season should be decided - United are seventh, with a game in hand on Manchester United in the last Champions League spot - if games will not recommence have been bandied about - including playing the remainder of the fixture list behind-closed-doors.

"Football wouldn't be football without the fans," McBurnie, speaking to United's in-house media team before the postponement, added.

"They're a massive part of it and a lot of the reason we play is to make them happy."

A statement last week, issued jointly by the FA, the Premier League and the EFL, read: “Given the steps being taken across clubs, there is no alternative [than to postpone]… however, all parties are committed at this time to trying to complete this season’s domestic fixture programme and are liaising to establish appropriate options to do so.