Fans should look at Wilson’s overall record, insists Morgan

Morgan, who started his career under Wilson at Barnsley, is now player-coach at Bramall Lane but will not be back on the field until Christmas following knee surgery.

Blades supporters staged a car park protest over Wilson’s appointment last week, demonstrating an apparent unwillingness to accept a former Sheffield Wednesday manager into the fold.

But Morgan said: “What we have to look at are his credentials as a manager. Don’t judge him on the Sheffield Wednesday aspect and give him time.

“We have got some rumblings but I am sure when they see the gaffer’s hard work and what he can bring to this club, that attitude will soon change.”

Wilson led Barnsley into the Premier League during his four-year spell as manager at Oakwell and the football played by his side gave rise to a now legendary chant of ‘It’s just like watching Brazil.”

Morgan made over 200 appearances for Barnsley before joining the Blades eight years ago and said: “It would be nice to think that the gaffer can come in and re-create the special time he had at Barnsley.

“When he took over, I was lucky enough to have just joined the club as a 16-year-old apprentice. I am not being disrespectful but Barnsley were always a mid-table First Division team. He rebuilt the squad he inherited and got it promoted to the Premier League.

“His Bristol City team played good football and he played in a Sheffield Wednesday team that played cracking football. That’s the way he has been throughout his career – but he’s also known for his hard work and his graft.

“We all know there are going to be changes. The chairman and the gaffer have made it clear that players will have to come and go. But he built a a team at Barnsley to the way he wanted to play and I am sure he will do that again.”

Morgan stressed that Wilson would only be able to introduce free-flowing football if he had the right players at his disposal.

“People have complained about certain managers playing long ball, and certain managers who want to over-play but, as a player, you just want to play a way that suits your team. There is no point trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. If you have not got the players who are comfortable in possession of a football, you can’t play like Barcelona.”

Morgan will be 34 next season and has been sidelined since last October with snapped cruciate knee ligaments, but is not about to call time on his playing career.

“Ideally, I would have wanted to be fit for the start of the season but, with the extent of my injury, I know that is not possible,” he said. “They operated on November 9 and said I would be out for nine to 12 months. We have had little setbacks so it is looking like it will be nearer the 12 months.”