Deane heralds advent of Wilder times for Blades

BRIAN DEANE famously appeared on the front of a Sheffield United programme in August 1992 draped in Yuletide tinsel – for the start of the first Premier League season.

Blades fans could be forgiven for thinking all their Christmases have come again now.

Newly-promoted United currently sit second in the Championship having won 11 of their first 16 fixtures. Instead of remembering dismal days in League One, Chris Wilder’s side are casting glances at the promised land of the top flight.

The parallels to the Dave Bassett era are clear – Bassett took the Blades into the old First Division back in 1991, with a side that included Deane and Wilder.

And Bassett kept them up to help launch the Premier League party, despite winning only two of their first 15 matches – hence his wish for Deane to bring Christmas forward a bit the following season!

Deane reckons the current Blades are thriving on the gift of confidence. He said: “Chris has said that it’s time for new heroes, and there are certainly one or two of those in this team.

“They’re really grasping the opportunity they’ve been given. Players have to be happy. They need to feel like they enjoy what they’re doing.

“Then you start coming in early, start training with a little niggle, because you want to be out there.

“A lot of managers undervalue that, but Chris knows it’s crucial.”

Leon Clarke, one of the leading scorers in the Championship, is certainly playing with a smile – he banged four past Hull last weekend and despite having once played for Sheffield Wednesday, the striker is now a firm fans’ favourite.

Deane said: “You’re now seeing a player who knows the manager believes in him and is someone who lets him get on with the serious business of scoring goals.

“It’s too early to talk promotion, but the confidence they’re playing with speaks volumes.”