George Baldock on Prince Abdullah's support for Chris Wilder

Baldock is among a core of players who have progressed from the lower divisions to the Premier League under the watch of Wilder at Bramall Lane and is adamant he owes a big debt of gratitude to the 53-year-old.

Ultimate payback would be to somehow help pull the Blades away from their current parlous and sorry predicament at the foot of the Premier League.

That is easier said than done, with Wilder's side heading into Thursday night's home game with Manchester United on the back of a desperate return of just one point from a possible 36 so far this season.

But Baldock insists that the onus is on the club's players to instigate a fightback, with the credentials of Wilder not something that should be questioned.

On Wilder receiving the backing of the Prince, the defender, who recently signed an improved contract with the club, said: He said: "It is music to all our ears, of course.

"At the end of the day, we are the ones coming up short on the pitch.

"To question this manager after the moments after he has given us all at this club ... he's done a remarkable job.

"Expectation levels change, we understand that and we are under no illusions that we have come up short this year so far.

"It has been a bitterly disappointing season and a complete contrast to last season. But there is no point in dwelling on that now.

"We need to step it up, improve and get out of this mess we are in and get better.

"We have complete faith in whatever team is put out there and whatever the manager chooses to do.

"He has an unbelievable record throughout his whole career and has given us opportunities to come to this club and play at this level. We have one hundred per cent faith in anything he says and anything that goes at this club."

Amid their current strife, the Blades' players are likely to take inspiration from any quarter and a touch arrives from their performance against tomorrow night's illustrious visitors to Bramall Lane last season.

That saw the hosts secure a dramatic point courtesy of a late-gasp leveller from Oliver McBurnie after the Red Devils had fought back from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 in a pulsating game at S2 in November 2019.

Baldock commented: "I watched the highlights of that back not so long ago. We were front foot, aggressive and made it uncomfortable for them and it was a great game of football and we definitely deserved something from that game.

"That is something to look at and get some inspiration from as the team is not too dissimilar from that team and we need to take inspiration that we can go toe to toe with these teams.

"Hopefully, we can on Thursday."