Sheffield United look as if they’ll be narrowly missing out on automatic promotion at the very top of the Championship with their opponents on Easter Monday in Scott Parker’s Burnley perhaps clinching a return to the Premier League at their expense.
Indeed, the Clarets can seal an immediate return to the promised land of the top-flight if they beat the travelling Blades, with Leeds United also only one victory away if Burnley get the job done against Chris Wilder’s men and they win themselves.
The South Yorkshire titans don’t have the most glittering record when it comes to the lottery of the playoffs unfortunately, with the Blades losing out during their last five playoff adventures, away from triumphantly managing to go up via the more drama-free top-two.
Wilder has only ever got his side up via these automatic spots, with other bosses such as the passionate Neil Warnock also clinching a passage up to the top-flight at the end of the 2005/06 season without the agony of the playoffs courtesy of Phil Jagielka’s heroics at the back.
Jagielka's heroics at Sheffield United
Before Jagielka went on to cement himself as a Premier League regular at Everton, the Blades youth product would initially make a name for himself at his boyhood side.
The 40-time England international amassed a whopping 305 appearances for United across two spells, with his efforts at the back during the aforementioned 05/06 campaign more than helping his team leap up to the top-flight, having bagged a sizeable eight goals as a titan defensively.
He went on to help himself to a further four goals the following campaign even whilst Warnock’s men tragically fell straight back down to the EFL, leading to Everton swooping in to land the 5 foot 11 defender to make him a recognised name in the big time.
Amazingly, Wilder might well be brewing United’s next Jagielka now during the dramatic promotion run-in.
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Sheffield United's modern-day Jagielka
Wilder has shown this campaign that he’s unafraid to make a team selection that throws the cat amongst the pigeons, with faces such as £10m striker Tom Cannon regularly left out.
Last time out in the second tier, the Blades boss even left out ex-Liverpool defender Jack Robinson to gift Crystal Palace loanee Rob Holding a start, a decision that was immediately vindicated when assessing his top display against Cardiff City.
Minutes played
90
Goals scored
0
Assists
0
Touches
70
Accurate passes
58/61 (95%)
Accurate long balls
11/14
Clearances
4
Blocked shots
1
Tackles
1
Total duels won
4/8
The brand-new United number five was calm and controlled on the ball throughout, particularly considering it was just his second league start since a January switch.
That was epitomised by his pass completion rate, with only three of his 61 passes missing their intended target during his time on the field.
Moreover, he also battled well against the relegation-threatened Bluebirds with four clearances tallied up alongside four duels being successfully won, leading to Wilder lauding the ex-Arsenal man as “outstanding” post-match.
As a result, the club may well have unearthed their next version of Jagielka. That’s considering Holding – much like his now retired counterpart – has a wealth of top-flight experience under his belt, having amassed 162 appearances for the Gunners in total away from injury issues.
With discussions centring in on the fact United could try to tie down Holding to a permanent deal, Wilder would love for the 29-year-old – like Jagielka – to continue putting in stern displays when called upon to try and clinch promotion.
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