Leicester City v Sheffield United: Chris Wilder knows threat of club he wanted to manage in summer

"It's mad," he says with a chuckle.

"But it's worked out fabulously for me, coming back to my club and trying to push on from what was a difficult start (to the season)."

Leciester's summer search was long, with Ruud van Nistelrooy a dead man walking even before they were relegated from last season's Premier League, with Marti Cifuentes not replacing him until July 15.

Wilder – much more surprisingly sacked by the Blades in June – was interviewed but missed out, only to return to his old post when Ruben Selles was dismissed in September.

Both Leicester and the Blades were expected to challenge for the Championship title this season, but it has not worked out as planned.

The Foxes go into Saturday's 12.30pm kick-off 15th, after six wins, six draws and five defeats. The Blades had spent only one matchday (Blackburn Rovers in October) out of the relegation zone until popping out on Wednesday.

Consecutive wins and three straight clean sheets – the latter for the first time this year – raised hopes this could be the turning point of their season, but Leicester have the ability to make it a dead end.

"I spoke to Leicester City in the summer," says Wilder. "I was impressed with what they had to say. At the time I was out of work so disappointed not to get that gig.

"I like to think that it could have been one that worked well for myself and the coaches that we would have brought in.

"Talking to them they had a very positive view on the club. (There was) what Enzo (Maresca) did as well (in his time as manager). We share the same agent.

"Their academy is absolutely top. They've brought some outstanding players through. I talked to them about the bulging talent in the academy. They bring through tough boys and they sign some good players. They've got a lot of players as well."

Notable amongst their academy products is midfielder/right-back Hamza Choudhury, loaned to the Blades in the second half of 2024-25.

"I've always been a Hamza fan," says Wilder. "I thought he was outstanding for us – he went about his job, no nonsense. He was one of the standout players when the pressure was on late on in the season."

The key for the Blades on Saturday is not to undo the good work of the last two games as they did following wins over Watford and Blackburn with three straight losses.

"I've said it to the players, always the biggest compliment that can be given myself, the coaches and the football club is people know what they're going to get when they play Sheffield United. I think that's coming together," says their manager.

"We're not always guaranteed the result, but performances. We want sevens and eights out of ten. We don't want a nine out of ten and a four out of ten.

"Consistency is really key.

"We go to a club that I would say from the teams that have been relegated out of the Premier League, one of the strongest group of players there's been. It just shows you how difficult this division is for anybody.

"When you look at what happened at Man City last season and Liverpool this season, it shows how difficult football is to win games and what can happen when you're on a downward trajectory in terms of results over a short period of time.

"I suppose it (Leicester’s season) shows just how easy at times it is to lose games and to come out of a division. It's a big challenge for us."