Swansea City v Sheffield United: Ticking right boxes to lead the Blades back up

The Blades have yet to confirm whether Adams will be staying on following the club’s relegation to League One but it will be a major shock if the 49-year-old is sacked just four months into the job.

Although he has won only four of his first 23 games in charge, Adams is looking forward to shaking up his squad and is adamant that the club has a bright future thanks to the quality of its youngsters.

“What’s happened at the football club this season has been a massive disappointment,” he said. “What’s important now is that we pick ourselves up and formulate a structure going forward. As for my situation, let’s get Saturday out of the way and then the strategy and planning will start.

“Maybe I will have to bring in some principles of how we play that I have not been able to introduce yet. That all takes time. But if they are looking for a manager with the experience to get us back up then I tick all the right boxes.”

Adams’s CV does not include promotion from League One but he has led two clubs, Fulham and Brighton, out of League Two and put the latter on course for promotion to the Championship before quitting for Leicester City in October, 2001. He also steered Leicester into the Premier League after relegation under Dave Bassett in 2002.

With added emphasis on youth recently, Adams plans to involve three more teenagers in today’s final game of the season at Swansea City – goalkeeper George Long, defender Terry Kennedy, and midfielder Matthew Harriot (who enjoyed a brief taste of first team action as a substitute against Doncaster Rovers in January).

However, Adams has also re-iterated his view that the Blades cannot rely on youngsters to win promotion next season.

“We might see a bit more of our pool of talent at Swansea and it is great to have them at our disposal,” he said.

“But if anyone thinks that we will walk the league with our FA Youth Cup team – well, it ain’t gonna happen, because they will have to learn and understand the rigours of League One, which is very physically demanding.”

The Blades are looking to finish the season on a high note.

Swansea, meanwhile, have already booked a place in the end of season play-offs and could rest any players carrying minor knocks.