Sheffield United have never played 'fear football' says Chris Wilder

The Blades have been anchored to the foot of the Premier League table throughout a fraught campaign, despite a mini-upturn in both league and Cup in the New Year.

Since early January, Wilder’s side - who visit West Ham on Monday - have won six of their past nine matches in all competitions and are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

It has provided hope going forward, according to Wilder

He said: “I have managed and seen a lot of players and teams that have played fear football and I don’t think we have played fear football all season.

“Is there a touch of a lack of belief and confidence whether to take a risk and reward and play with that freedom and momentum that comes with a team that wins games of football and is on the front foot? No.

“I have never really seen a fear in players that they have not wanted to get on the ball and hide.

“It is my biggest thing in football and as soon as you do that in any game of football at any level, you are down to ten, down to nine and down to eight and it makes it really difficult to get a performance and result and I have never really seen that.

“I have seen players who have been out of form when you analyse things and it has been a struggle to accept and understand, but it happens.

“Big players who have not played to the best of their ability as they did previously and that does affect everybody. But they are getting back to the form they have produced.”

Wilder has confirmed that George Baldock and Enda Stevens are back in training, with Jack O’Connell and Sander Berge continuing to work well in their rehabilitation.

He added: “Enda was on the bench in midweek and has trained this week and George trained yersetda and will train today and if he comes through that, then he will be on the train down to London.

“Jack has had a couple of issues which we knew would be the case and Sander is working extremely hard.

“Both the boys have got brilliant attitudes and all want to be out there fighting for their team-mates on the grass and be part of it. But it is obviously dictated to by the medical department and more qualified than me.

“But they will be welcomed back into a group who know how important we are.”.