Blades have all the attributes to remain in Premier League – Wilder

CHRIS WILDER accepts Sheffield United have to be more clinical in front of goal, and has called on his players to show the mental toughness to bridge the gap to clubs who have spent fortunes on players who can make the difference at either end of the field.

The Blades’ Premier League games between now and the November international break are at Liverpool and Manchester City, and at home to Chelsea.

It is an extremely tough run for a side looking for their first win since mid- July, but they can take heart from the fact that was a 3- 0 win over Frank Lampard’s Chelsea, and that Liverpool will be without goalkeeper Alisson and central defender Virgil van Dijk on Saturday.

More than anything, though, they will have to raise their own game. As well as only having one point – from Sunday’s 1- 1 draw at home to struggling Fulham – they have scored just twice – once from David McGoldrick in open play at Arsenal, and Billy Sharp’s equalising penalty against the Cottagers. They created plenty of chances at the weekend, but were wasteful in front of goal.

“I can’t say two goals out of the first five games is a decent return, can I?” said Wilder.

“The hardest part is sticking the ball in the back of the net and keeping it out of the back of the net, too. Some teams pay £ 400m to keep the ball out the back of the net ( a reference to the amount Manchester City have lavished on defenders under Pep Guardiola) or £ 300m to put it in at the other end.

“This is an incredibly competitive league. We’ve done incredibly well to get into this league way ahead of time.

“We haven’t won any of the first five games and it doesn’t sit well with us but we shouldn’t be embarrassed.”

Sheffield United’s biggest outlay this summer was on Rhian Brewster, a striker surplus to requirements at Anfield. He cost an initial £ 20m, plus up to £ 3m in add- ons. Brewster made his debut as a weekend substitute.

The Blades have injury concerns, too, with Jack O’Connell unlikely to play again this season, Lys Mousset recovering from toe surgery, John Fleck out for four to six weeks and Max Lowe concussed in the opening minutes of Sunday’s debut.

Wilder, though, believes in their mental resolve.

“If the players want to stay as Premier League footballers they’ve got all the attributes to do that,” he said.

“We’re a tight group and we’ll stick together and try to find a way through it.”