Campbell-Ryce has no doubts that Blades are set to challenge for promotion

Campbell-Ryce has pulled on the shirt for 11 different clubs since launching his footballing career at Charlton Athletic as a rookie teenager.

The former Jamaica international has gone in search of employment all over the country, including spells with both Rotherham United and Barnsley.

But the winger – who was jettisoned out on loan to Notts County last season by then Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough – is now a firm favourite at Bramall Lane.

And the 32-year-old claims the current Blades squad is the most talented with which he has been involved.

Even last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat to Millwall has not dented his confidence that the Blades will be celebrating promotion to the Championship come May.

“Looking at teams I have played for – looking at friends who have played at other clubs – I know the players we have here it is a promotion-winning side,” said Campbell-Ryce.

“I say that without a shadow of a doubt. I have no doubt we will be there at the end of the season.

“I am completely convinced that I have never been in a squad which has so much ability, so much to give.

“It’s not going to be easy, we all know that. We can’t just roll up to games and think we can win this. We have got to earn the right to play. But once we run over teams first, earn the right to play the football we want to do, we can do it.

“We need to tidy up on things which aren’t going right, but once we do that we will be absolutely flying.

“We are not a million miles away. We all know how we want to play – play gorgeous football – but we have to do the other side first, the nasty stuff.

“There’s an unbelievable amount of football and talent here, not just in the team that started on Saturday, but through the squad – the injured boys, those who aren’t even in the squad, the boys on the bench.

“We have a fantastic squad, so hopefully we can all work together and get better.”

Campbell-Ryce is a full-back’s worst nightmare, possessing a low centre of gravity and pace in abundance.

Sidelined under Clough, he has flourished under new Blades boss Nigel Adkins after being given a licence to attack.

Against Millwall, the winger was a constant threat and one of United’s tactics is to give him the ball as often as possible.

“We all know how I play – the fans know how I play – and I fancy myself against any full-back in the division, when I am on my day,” he said.

“My team-mates know that, they kept on feeding me.

“When you are a player like myself – it’s different if you are a central midfielder, where you don’t want to get caught in possession – the manager encourages me to attack. He tells me to run down their throat.

“It gives me confidence to do my bit. In this division I fancy myself against anyone in this league.

“If I am on my game, am given the ball, then I do have an end product to strip the defender, get a cross or shot off. Hopefully that can continue and I thank the manager for putting that confidence in me.”

The Blades face bottom of the table Crewe on Saturday, and will look to cut the gap on League One leaders Gillingham.

Campbell-Ryce admits the Blades need to improve defensively, but his team-mates are refusing to sulk despite not getting the rewards they probably deserved against Millwall.

He said: “We beat Fleetwood ((eight days ago), yet we didn’t play as well then as we did on Saturday.

“But we ran away (against Fleetwood) 3-0. That’s football: you don’t play well and you win, you play well and you don’t. Which one do you want?

“We are disappointed, but we can’t sulk and be down for too long.

“We need to be more mature defensively, not just defenders, but as a team.

“We have got to know we can’t switch off. Stay switched on, even when we are attacking.

“The second goal, we could have done better all over the park. It’s just fine tuning.”