Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder hopes to have Patrick Bamford back fit for Tuesday’s trip to bottom-markers Preston after Ben Brereton Diaz stepped into the breach admirably on Friday night.

The Blades were missing their leading goalscorer for Friday night’s game with Wrexham, as Bamford – scorer of five goals in 10 Championship starts – missed out.

Joe Rothwell also missed out after pulling up with a groin strain in the warm-up and is a doubt for Tuesday’s trip to Deepdale.

But Chile forward Brereton Diaz is in his third loan spell at Bramall Lane and Wilder was delighted he notched his first goal since returning in the summer as the Blades won 1-0 to pile the pressure on Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson.

Stepping in: Ben Brereton Diaz of Sheffield United celebrates after scoring the winner against Wrexham on Friday night.

placeholder image — Stepping in: Ben Brereton Diaz of Sheffield United celebrates after scoring the winner against Wrexham on Friday night.

“As we all know straight away not everybody hits the ground running,” said Wilder. “Not any player, whatever division they are and sometimes to get themselves going, but that will do him no harm.

“I thought the performance from the two at the top of the pitch was really good, especially in the first half. They linked well, stretched well and I think the better team won the game of football.”

Wilder felt his side were good value for all three points, their fifth league win of the season having won just one of their first five.

“We needed to put in a 95-minute performance together. We’re trying to find that consistency,” he said.

“A lot of clubs are still finding their way after 12 games and they’re all looking for that consistency. It was up to us to take the initiative and we certainly did. Everybody turned up. Hopefully we can kick on from tonight’s performance. I thought we were the better team and fully deserved the win.”

Parkinson was left questioning the desire of his Wrexham team.

“Whatever system you play, whatever personnel you play, the team has got to represent the town in the way it has done for the majority of the last five years,” he said.

“I think this season we’ve had some really good performances, but I just said to lads in the dressing room, I don’t feel we’ve got a consistent level of effort, and desire every week, and that’s what our fans are used to seeing. We had a very good first season at this level and we’ve got to get back to that.”