DAVID’S A DIAMOND MADE OF PURE GOLD

CHRIS WILDER rates David McGoldrick one of his best signings.

Wilder, who has guided Sheffield United from League One to the top flight, said striker McGoldrick (above) has been the club’s star performer in a torrid season. The Irishman got the winner against Villa in midweek and today comes up against Southampton, where he got his big break as a youngster.

Wilder (right) said: “He’s got to be up there. I quite like those types of left-field signings. Off the pitch he’s been an absolute diamond and a team player. On the pitch he is still contributing like he has over the last three years. He’s right up there as one of my favourites.

“Everyone who knows about Didzy would say he was an extremely talented young player who, for one reason or another, has not fulfilled his potential.

“As a young player he got in at Southampton and had opportunities to make a big-money move but suffered with a couple of big injuries.

“Sometimes careers aren’t straightforward but he’s certainly maximising his now at a place I know he really enjoys.”

Wilder wants a strong finish to the season from his strugglers, who are 12 points off safety after winning four games all season and look doomed.

He added: “I am not sitting in the back of the dugout. We are not taking shortcuts Monday to Friday. The attitude to every game is consistent and bang on because we didn’t get to this position by taking shortcuts over the last 20 years.

“I want to win every game we play. We go 100 per cent all the way through. We were the same in League One when it was done and dusted. We go rght to the end because we have an obligation to ourselves, the supporters, fellow players, and the division to give our best.

“I don’t want to finish on a low. I want to win games, and, if I see any drop in commitment, it will stick with me. One thing that really hurts and stings is if people have an opinion that they are turning it in.

“The midweek game was remarkable in the way my players kept going and kept going.”

November, said: “I am not such a big fan of this scenario really because if we don’t win against Sheffield United, we are not relegated.

“It is not helping you if you are thinking during the game, ‘Oh, what happens if we lose today?’ It doesn’t help you to play a better ball. So why should you do this? Concentrate on what you can do best. Concentrate on the game plan.

“We definitely need a result. We can still win games. We just have to play a little bit better.”