Blades say Billy’s still a key player
BILLY SHARP has been told his love affair with Sheffield United is not over.
The Sheffield-born striker feared his days at his boyhood team were numbered after falling down the pecking order at Bramall Lane.
Leon Clarke, Clayton Donaldson and new boy James Wilson, hired on loan from Manchester United, have all started ahead of Sharp recently.
Important
But Blades boss Chris Wilder insists Sharp remains a key part of his side’s push for promotion and FA Cup glory – and that’s why he has turned down Bradford’s loan bid for the United skipper.
Sharp, 31, is set to lead the Blades into fourth-round battle at home to Championship rivals Preston today.
Wilder said: “Billy won’t be going anywhere, I won’t consider that.
“He has got a big part to play here because he brings something important to the table and you never know what’s around the corner.
“I am looking forward to managing Billy – and all of my players for that matter – ®Êby TIM GRAY through an exciting second part of the campaign.
“Every one of them has got a vital role to play. We’ll assess where we are at the end of the season, and players will assess, too.
“I appreciate they all want to play, but it’s not an individual sport. That’s what we have built our group on, and I’ll always explain why people are out of the team.
“Players have to be prepared to come in to the side and then maybe step out. They have to accept that – whether they are 19 or 20 or the most experienced of players.
“Nobody here is an automatic pick. I’ve got a group of lads who are competitive.”
Wilder added: “The last round of the cup, we went to Ipswich.
“It wasn’t the most glamorous of ties, but we took a great following down there and the scenes at the end told me my players have got the same feel for the club as myself, my staff and the fans.
“There’s an opportunity to get into the fifth round and we’ll take on board another game gladly. If I said any game when someone pulls a red and white shirt on isn’t important, I think I’d get lynched.”