Barnsley FC v Sheffield United: Chris Wilder proud to put the Blades' bright young things on show

Out of respect to the sold-out away end at Barnsley on Tuesday as much as anything, manager Wilder is promising a stronger side for the League Cup second-round tie at Oakwell than the one which knocked fellow League One side Wrexham out of round one at Bramall Lane.

But it will still have a youthful feel because some of the Blades' best players are also some of their youngest, something Sheffielder Wilder is extremely proud of.

Despite being only 20, Oliver Arblaster captained again at Norwich City, and scored his side's equaliser in a 1-1 draw. Andre Brooks, his place on the right wing threatened by the arrival of loanee Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, produced perhaps his best performance of the season.

Sai Sachdev, a 19 year-old full-back, made his debut from the bench.

Although Wilder is hoping to persuade the board to strengthen his squad before Friday's deadline, he has no interest in shedding youngsters, be they established names like Arblaster and 21-year-old Brooks, or those still learning the game like Sachdev, Sydie Peck – man of the match against Wrexham – and first-round scorer Louie Marsh who others would like to borrow.

"I'm delighted in a way – I don't why I'm saying this! – that there's interest in our players because they're good players and they're playing well," says Wilder.

"Internally they're very driven, for example Blaster doesn't speak like a young lad in his first full year (in Sheffield United's first team).

"We're delighted in terms of how he is and how he conducts himself.

"If you've got a lot of players playing well and attracting interest, they're doing well, we're doing well as coaches.

"Where he wants to be is a top Premier League player, how he gets there, there are all different ways.

"It's music to the ears of not just for me as Sheffield United manager and a supporter but all our punters as well that he sees his immediate future with Sheffield United.

"We want to be at the top level and if we get there, Blaster's going to be key to that.

"I thought he was the best player on the pitch on Saturday and from a manager's point of view there's times when you don't want really to say things but he can handle it. He handled the pressure of last season and this season as well.

"It's really good from him and he's driving the group forward."

Promoted to the first team when Wilder returned to the club in December, Brooks has stepped up another gear.

"Brooksy's certainly raised his levels (after) a change of position from him from being a ‘high eight’ in a midfield three, like he was in the Premier League, to playing wide on the right but out of the four forwards I would rank him as the best on Saturday," says his manager.

"Sai Sachdev made his debut, Sydie Peck was in the 20, Marsh in the squad as well.

"We've have talked about signings and freshening it up with your (Callum) O'Hares, (Jamie) Shackletons and Kieffer Moores coming in but we've promoted four (youngsters) to make it six into the first-team squad and that shouldn't be under-estimated or not talked about.

"We've got an enormous amount of faith in the young players we're bringing through.

"Hopefully this is time to enjoy watching a new, young side grow."

It is not just the likes of Arblaster and more experienced players such as Gustavo Hamer and Anel Ahmedhodzic Wilder is keen to keep this week.

"I think we'll keep them all in," he says of the younger fringe players who could be loan targets for lower-league clubs. "There might be one or two but we'd like to keep them in. We feel they've grown with us from pre-season and they'll still grow.

"I keep asking (academy manager) Del Geary, 'How old? 18? 19? 17?' It's brilliant.

"They've got a lot to learn. There isn't an incredible mad rush to get them out on loan, we won't have a bloated, inflated squad.

"It (Tuesday's game) is a Sheffield United first-team fixture, it's not an Under-21 fixture or a reserve-team fixture. Some more will get game-time and I'm looking forward to some of them repeating what they did in our previous round in the competition against Wrexham.

"Supporters have to trust me in terms of the minutes. We don't want to break anybody. Ty (Campbell, a summer signing) got on the pitch on Saturday, it's important for him to get more minutes, it's important for Rhian (Brewster).

"It'll be a stronger group than against Wrexham. We understand the challenge ahead of us in a derby.

"We'll be taking a fantastic following (of 5,000) and I think that shows what the supporters think about the competition, the tie and our progression."