Exacting standards of Sheffield United boss Wilder no problem for Baldock

Sheffield United's George Baldock battles for the ball with Leicester City's Leonardo Ulloa at Bramall Lane on Tuesday night. Picture: Tim Goode/PA.

The Sheffield United close-season recruit made his Blades debut after a niggling foot injury in Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup exit to Leicester City – on an evening when a visiting starting line-up which cost £98m to assemble turned on the style in the second half to record a fully-deserved 4-1 win.

While Baldock took personal satisfaction in managing to play two-thirds of the game, he admits to getting a choice glimpse into the standards expected by Blades chief Wilder, who let his players know in no uncertain terms that he expects them to learn quickly from Tuesday’s events – even accounting for the step-up in opponent.

Baldock said: “The attitude he showed after the game is the kind of attitude you want from your manager.

Chris Wilder, left, and assistant Alan Knill at Bramall Lane, during Tuesday night's defeat to Leicester in the Carabao Cup. Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

“He made it clear he wants winners and people to improve and I would like to think I am one of them.

“He makes it clear it is 11 men against 11 men and that it is not about the name on the back of your shirt or badge on the front. He doesn’t like that excuse that people give, which is quite refreshing for me.”

The game ended a proud run of nine successive home victories for United, who will be seeking to reacquaint themselves with the wins trail at the first juncture against visiting Derby County on Saturday.

And Baldock is hoping to have propelled himself into contention after starting to put the memories of a frustrating start to his Blades career behind him.

He added: “When I first got told the (injury) news, it wasn’t best pleasing. But I am the type of character who just gets on with it.

“You can’t do anything about it and just have to make the most of a bad situation.

“I have been itching to play and the coaching team had to tell me to calm down before the (Leicester) game and I was pacing up and down and could not wait. I don’t know what I will be like when it is a full house at Bramall Lane.

“Enda (Stevens) touched on it, it is a great place to play and teams are not going to enjoy coming here because of the atmosphere and way we are playing.”