Leon Clarke confident Sheffield United can pass test of character that awaits at next level

THE CHAMPAGNE corks may still be popping around the red and white half of Sheffield but thoughts are already turning to next season's Championship return.
Sheffield United's Leon Clarke celebrates scoring his team's first goal against Bradford City at Bramall Lane on Easter Monday (Picture: Jamie Tyerman/Sportimage).Sheffield United's Leon Clarke celebrates scoring his team's first goal against Bradford City at Bramall Lane on Easter Monday (Picture: Jamie Tyerman/Sportimage).
Sheffield United's Leon Clarke celebrates scoring his team's first goal against Bradford City at Bramall Lane on Easter Monday (Picture: Jamie Tyerman/Sportimage).

Six years is a long time to be away and the Blades will discover a very different landscape to the one they left behind when relegated under Micky Adams.

The flood of TV money into the Premier League over the intervening period has filtered down through parachute payments.

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Transfer fees have soared along with wages and the step-up from League One has grown into something of a chasm.

This much has become apparent from the struggles endured by clubs who have won automatic promotion since the £8bn TV deal for the top flight came into play at the end of the 2014-15 season.

MK Dons went straight back down and Wigan Athletic, last season’s champions, look certain to follow suit.

Bristol City, title-winners in 2015 with 99 points, are locked in a survival scrap for the second consecutive year, while Burton Albion’s first season in the Championship has been a struggle.

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Chris Wilder’s task, therefore, is to strengthen sufficiently over the summer to buck this trend. Considering the sterling job done by the 49-year-old in his first year at the Lane, few would bet against him doing just that.

Sheffield United's Leon Clarke jumps in celebration. Picture: Simon Bellis/SportimageSheffield United's Leon Clarke jumps in celebration. Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage
Sheffield United's Leon Clarke jumps in celebration. Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

Whoever does come in, Leon Clarke is adamant what won’t change is the attitude and ethos that has brought an end to the club’s stay in League One.

“The unbeaten run shows the character we have among the group of players,” said the 32-year-old striker, who maintained his scoring streak with a double in Monday’s 3-0 victory over Bradford City.

“It shows the character of the manager, too. He didn’t change his philosophy, even when we had a bad start to the season, and that really helped.

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“At others clubs, things could have got a lot worse. But he stuck to his guns, in terms of the philosophy he had, and just tweaked a few things. We have got a ruthless bunch of players.”

Sheffield United's Leon Clarke jumps in celebration. Picture: Simon Bellis/SportimageSheffield United's Leon Clarke jumps in celebration. Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage
Sheffield United's Leon Clarke jumps in celebration. Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

Clarke’s last statement is certainly backed up by United’s on-field deeds this term. Monday’s victory was their 28th of a season that started with a solitary point being gleaned from the opening four games, a club record.

Another victory from their final two games will also set a new points record for the club, eclipsing the 96 that brought the Fourth Division championship to the Lane 35 years ago.

Two more wins, meanwhile, from Saturday’s trip to Milton Keynes and the final day visit of relegated Chesterfield would see United join an exclusive club of teams who have racked up a century of points in a season.

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“The manager did mention to us about reaching 100 points after we got promoted,” added Clarke. “Before the Bradford game, he was making sure we were all up for it and at it. It is definitely something we all want to achieve.”

United’s players are not due back in until tomorrow morning after two days off. The focus will then immediately switch to finishing the season on a high before attention can turn to what changes will be needed over the summer.

For some among United’s promotion heroes, this will mean heading for the exit. However, regardless of the squad’s make-up come August, Clarke insists some things won’t change.

“We haven’t spoken about next season,” said last summer’s arrival from Bury. “We are just trying to enjoy what is going on, at the moment. Obviously, there is going to be ins and outs over the summer. But whoever comes in, they will have to adapt to the manager’s philosophy.

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“As I said, the manager hasn’t sat down and said who he wants to keep. For me personally, every time I play is a chance to impress and show people, who maybe doubted me, that I can score goals. It is a chance for me to impress the manager and my team-mates.”

Clarke has certainly been doing that at the end of what had previously been a disappointing season on a personal level.

After netting 18 times last term for a struggling Bury side, he had been bought to provide a foil for captain Billy Sharp. Instead, injury and loss of form meant he found the net just three times in 19 appearances before finally succumbing to that ankle problem.

Five goals in the last four games, however, has underlined why Wilder was so keen to bring the striker on board last summer.

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“The last four games have gone well for me,” he added. “It is just a shame that I haven’t been able to play as many games as I would have liked. I said when I signed that, if I was fit and available, I can score a lot of goals in this league. It would have been nice to have a few more at the start but they are coming now.

“As for next season, if we can keep on winning and keep on getting that backing – there were nearly 30,000 in (against Bradford) – then who knows what might happen? The place was rocking.”