Sheffield United face Championship opening-night balancing act with late recruits

As an experienced defender, although only 25, the hope is that a good pre-season with Leicester City will allow the giant central defender to slip in relatively seamlessly to the Blades' back four at Deepdale having only joined on loan on Tuesday.

His new team are still hoping to tie up a loan for Chelsea defender Alfie Gilchrist and whilst the 20-year-old does not have the same experience to call upon, the Blades' pressing needs at right-back could influence the decision if he is registered by noon on Thursday.

"It's really difficult because you've got to factor in the minutes that these boys have had in pre-season, what is their condition like?" said Wilder, who has also signed Kieffer Moore, Callum O'Hare, Harrison Burrows, Sam McCallum and the now-injured Jamie Shackleton.

"They've not been in the building and that isn't ideal.

"We're a coached side, we're not just an off-the-cuff side so we're going to have to coach them on the job.

"The good players pick it up pretty quickly but from a fitness point of view we'll have to wait and see. Hopefully the players coming in are doing work at their current clubs."

Australia defender Souttar has no concerns about his readiness, saying: "I've had a full pre-season, I'm feeling fit and ready to go."

It has been a difficult summer for the Blades, who needed a big rebuild after a post-relegation clearout but have been restricted by a proposed takeover still awaiting Football League approval.

Wilder has been open about needing more players after a window high on quality but too low on quality. He admits the uncertainty has been difficult.

"My job is to be football manager and look after that side of it but it's not an ideal situation,” he said. “It's not an ideal situation for the board or (chief executive) Steve Bettis, me, the supporters, the players, everybody.

"Everybody wants us to get on, work with the players and be that football team and talk about football matters, not stuff that's happening away from the training ground and the main event."