WILDER: IT’S MAD WHAT WE’VE DONE

CHRIS WILDER has claimed his Sheffield United stars have been ridiculous this season – but in a good way.

Straight-talking boss Wilder (left) takes his over-performing stars to Newcastle today still in with a shout of playing in Europe next season.

And although the pressure is on for the Blades to finish their first Premier League campaign in 13 years in style, Wilder says he’s relaxed about the outcome.

“The most important thing is we give everything and if it’s not to be it won’t be for lack of effort,” he said.

“You look at teams directly around us and see how the break has affected them in a positive way – there’s no doubt about it.

“But talking about us in the same way as the teams around us, it’s just ridiculous what our players have achieved. They don’t want to fall off the side of a cliff, they want to keep going and that’s brilliant for me.

“There will be no motivational speeches from me. The players know what they can achieve and they want to keep going.

“It’s not how far you have come it’s how far you can go and that’s just been our attitude.

“We haven’t got comfy slippers on, nor are we uptight about achieving stuff, just as we weren’t last year. Nobody is sure. If we have a few more injuries like we have done or lose a bit of momentum and other teams are stronger... you don’t know.

“All I want is for the players to enjoy this experience and give it everything, as they’ve done.

“We are slugging it out with the big boys and that’s been an exceptional achievement so far. If we don’t do what we’re trying to, nobody can be ashamed.”