Chris Wilder fires a message to critics of Rhian Brewster

The former Liverpool forward, 20, arrived amid plenty of fanfare following a long pursuit by the Blades in the autumn for a £23.5m fee, but he has yet to find the net for the club in eight appearances.

Wilder is calling for some perspective, given Brewster's age and has also cited the way in which Jack O'Connell turned around a tough start to his own time at the club as proof that initial judgments on players are unfair.

Wilder, whose side welcome Manchester United on Thursday night, said: "I have not just signed him (Brewster) for the short term. People lose a little bit of form and do not get off to flying starts...

"Jack O'Connell, who has arguably been our player after the four years...Deary me, some were getting rid of him after a game and a half.

"I think every Sheffield United supporter would have got rid of him after about two games....Especially when he stuck his hand up in the air at Millwall away and we lost our third out of our first four games of the season (in 2016-17). I suppose that will be the same with me as well.

"Then you have that bit in the middle when things go the way you want them to.

"From my point of view as a manager and from a player's point of view, if I said: 'Let's get rid of Jack O'Connell', there would be a riot in Bramall Lane car park!"

"That is how it is. People want to make quick judgments on people.

"That is the business we are and when things can well, they (players) are incredible and unbelievable and they should be playing and managing Real Madrid.

"When they don't, it is: 'how did they ever get a career in football'. We all get that.

"But I always think there is a story to every situation. From Rhian's point of view, he is a young player and I do not think it (Blades' situation) is any fault of his.

"If there is any fault, it is the team and mine really and not him. He is going to be fine and I am sure he will be fine in the long run."