How Sheffield United’s Katie Wilkinson has been sharpened by lockdown ahead of Durham test

The Blades – who were second in the FA Women’s Championship when the season was halted in March amid the coronavirus pandemic – saw their fate taken out of their hands despite being hot on the heels of league leaders Aston Villa.

The decision to award the final standings on a points-per-game system saw United miss out on earning a spot in the Women’s Super League, and has provided the South Yorkshire club with added motivation this term.

New boss Neil Redfearn has made a strong start to life with the Blades with Wilkinson and her team-mates sitting second again after seven games, trailing this weekend’s opponents Durham by a single point.

The 26-year-old made the move from the London Bees in 2019 and has made her presence felt swiftly.

Fourteen goals in 14 league games last season was an impressive return as Wilkinson finished as the leading markswoman in the second division. She has once again started in similar fashion this time around, bagging six times in just 613 minutes across all competitions.

“It’s been difficult like it was for everyone,” Wilkinson told The Yorkshire Post over the extended break last summer.

“For me, I used it as a time to really get myself right and focus on me. I don’t always have time to do that if I am honest, so it was a really good time for the focus to be on me and nobody else.

“Not the team, not the work environment... just me. I think that’s really helped my start to the season.

“I came back quite sharp and ready mentally to get back involved. I still think I could be doing better in the league if I’m honest.

“There’s more to come and I’m hoping I can push on over the next few weeks.”

United host Durham on Sunday and despite the campaign still being in its infancy, there is already a growing edge to the game.

The two sides are vying for promotion, and the Blades were humbled 6-0 by their counterparts in the County Cup around two weeks ago.

“They’re almost like the silent assassins,” said Wilkinson.

“I think teams go thinking it could be an easy game but it never is. They’re unbelievably physical, organised and they have a great team spirit about them.

“They’re very hard to break down. The result we had against them in the cup, we weren’t at it at all and it wasn’t good for us – but that won’t be happening again, categorically.

“It’s going to be difficult. We’re finding now that teams are coming up against us and defending our strengths very well.

“Every game that we go into we want three points and if we don’t do that then it isn’t enough in my eyes. Sunday is definitely one of those where we need to be going and starting quickly to get three points from the game.”

Wilkinson has had a taste of the top flight with Birmingham City – the club where she rose through the ranks. This season’s goal is clear for her after the disappointment of a curtailed campaign in the rear view mirror, a return to the WSL with the Blades is at the top of the agenda.

“That is the aim and the goal for the season,” she added.

“For how tough the league is this season, it would be amazing for us to have the opportunity to gain promotion. There is such a long season ahead of us and a lot of work to be done. 

“I think we have a very decent group of girls and a good set-up to point us in the right direction to go and achieve it.

“Neil [Redfearn] has come in and I love him.

“He’s passionate, has a lot of attention to detail and he knows exactly what he is doing. That’s what we need.

“Every single one of us respects him and his decisions and how he wants to be. He has that fight about him and as a group of players we’re exactly the same.

“We want to go and win games and he has that same mentality. He puts that out on the training field and he sets us up ready to go.

“He guides us in the right direction and when we cross those white lines it is up to us to produce.”

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click HERE to subscribe.