Chris Wilder believes Sheffield United will have more "personality and character" if Tom Davies, Ben Mee and Oliver Arblaster can return at home to Leicester City on New Year's Day. Adding more to his squad is a January priority.

Davies and Mee trained on New Year's Eve after recent injuries, and Arblaster is set to feature having been rested to the bench for Monday's 2-1 win at Stoke City.

All will improve the team with their footballing qualities, but not just that. Manager Wilder is looking forward to using Davies and Mee’s "personality and character”, saying: “those two coming back into the group really does boost that."

Even at 21, Arblaster brings it too.

"Making him captain when we were in the Premier League wasn't a PR stunt," insisted Wilder.

"Challenging everybody in the changing room is a massive thing for me, not letting the manager's voice always be the loudest one.

"Last season, I could maybe have put an armband on half a dozen (players). I certainly could have put the armband on 14 in 2019.

"I've seen Sydie (Peck) having a pop at senior players in training, making sure the standards are right.

YOUNG LEADER: Oliver Arblaster (Image: Andrew Yates / Sportimage)

placeholder image — YOUNG LEADER: Oliver Arblaster (Image: Andrew Yates / Sportimage)

"That is something that most definitely we need to look into in January to give us a better chance of being successful."

January signings will improve the chances, but no more than that. As Wilder put it: "Go and buy a kettle if you want a guarantee.”

Mee's has only been a short lay-off, but the Blades have to be careful with midfielders Davies and Arblaster – Davies after an injury-hit two-and-a-half years at Bramall Lane, Arblaster because he is only five games into his return from anterior cruciate ligament damage.

"We've taken a bit longer (with Davies)," explained Wilder. "We've done some other bits and pieces to hopefully give him longevity into his career and the opportunity of stringing a run of games together."

It is a similar challenge in how much they ask of Arblaster.

"It's the most difficult, especially when you're not well stocked in the midfield department as we should be as a top-25 club," said Wilder.

"He has come back earlier than what we would have liked to (due to other injuries and illnesses). We have to be really mindful he could (have a further injury setback).

"Managing his minutes (in games) is important, managing his minutes at the training ground is really important.

"I'm a little bit, ‘It will be all right, get him out there,’ but we employ top people in the sports science department to have a big input. We want (players) to get out of the comfort zone and push through the limits, especially in a challenging period. But there's daily meetings with the medical, coaching and sports science departments all together.

"(Arblaster)'s been to the doctor and he's talking three to six months to get 100 per cent on top of his game. It won't take him that long but I think we have to give him a bit of a free pass and time to breathe."

The importance of Davies and Arblaster is increased because Peck has missed the last five matches with a calf strain.

Wilder said the 21-year-old will return "sooner than later."