Chris Wilder says the return to form of Femi Seriki has allowed Japhet Tanganga to move closer to his best form for Sheffield United.

The 26-year-old was a highly-prized signing from Millwall in the summer but like so many Blades players suffered in a difficult start to the season under Ruben Selles.

When Selles was sacked and replaced by his predecessor as manager, Wilder, Tanganga was handed the captain's armband but still found his best form hard to come by. Initially under Wilder he was playing as a hybrid right-sided centre-back/right-back as the Blades played with three central defenders in possession and a back four out of it.

But since Seriki – another who lost form and confidence early in the season – has returned to the side, Tanganga has looked far more confident in a more clearly-defined role.

"I think him playing in that natural position now as a centre-half, the partnership with him and Ben (Mee) is coming along nicely," reflected Wilder, whose team have not lost in the four games since Seriki came back into the starting XI.

"We were trying to work it out, he had to play right-back in a couple of games, which he did for Spurs and he did at Millwall, he's played in the Premier League as right-back under Jose (Mourinho) so he can do that.

"I'm trying to look to work out the best (combination), was it three centre-halves at a time when we were not winning games?

"We went to that to get a foothold in some of the games, which worked.

NATURAL: Femi Seriki (left) has come back into the Sheffield United side at right-back (Image: Steve Ellis)

placeholder image — NATURAL: Femi Seriki (left) has come back into the Sheffield United side at right-back (Image: Steve Ellis)

"But off the back of last season, going to a back four was always an idea for us that we wanted to do.

"We've got good combinations, good competition as well now, Femi coming into the team, we haven't got a natural right-back into the football club apart from him.

"He had a slow start so him producing the performances that he is (is important), we've got good competition at left-back and Japh playing in his natural position now."

Tanganga has also started to pose at threat at set pieces recently, with the first two goals of the 3-0 win over Portsmouth coming as a result of headers he won at corners.

HEAD BOY: The header from Japhet Tanganga (centre) which was handled to win Sheffield United a penalty at home to Portsmouth (Image: Andrew Yates / Sportimage)

Wilder thinks the blame lies mainly with the takers.

"We've been trying to get Japh in but the delivery's got to be right and we've just been off with the delivery," he said.

"We've had more corners than anybody in the division (easily, with 142) but you can plan and you can look to move and open things up from an analysis point of view but if the delivery's not right....

"There's some committed boys that want to go and head the ball.

"Japh, when we played against them (Milwall) last season, he's a huge threat from set plays."