Sheffield United have built their success this season on consistency, with eight players having started all 11 of their Premier League matches.
All eight of those were also at the club last year as the Blades won promotion from the Championship. Manager Chris Wilder is reaping the rewards of trust between himself and his squad.
The Blades have been the surprise package in 2019/20 – their first in the top flight in 12 years. They currently sit sixth in the table, one point behind Arsenal and ahead of many more established sides.
They also have the joint best defensive record in the division alongside Leicester City. Only Manchester City have kept as many as their five clean sheets.
Not only that, but the foundations their impressive achievements are built on cost less than £8m. Those eight players who have started every game were signed for a relative pittance compared to other teams in England’s top tier.
Who has shone for Sheffield United this season?
MORE UNITED STORIES
Dean Henderson
On loan from the Red Devils for the second year running, Henderson recently became the first Blade to receive a senior England call-up since Brian Deane in 1992.
Chris Basham
Signed on a free transfer from Blackpool in 2014, Basham has risen through the divisions having played for Wilder’s men in League One. The 31-year-old’s 250th game for the club was against West Ham United.
John Egan
Until this summer Egan was the club record signing, arriving from Brentford for £4.1m (Yorkshire Post). The Republic of Ireland international is the linchpin at the centre of the defence.
Jack O’Connell
Another signed from the Bees and another who played in the third tier for the Blades. O’Connell cost just £500,000 (Sheffield Star) in 2016, but is now being touted for England selection.
George Baldock
Upon their promotion to the Championship, the south Yorkshire outfit paid £650,000 to MK Dons (The Football League Paper) for Baldock. He provides the width on the right from wing-back.
John Lundstram
The breakout star of this campaign, Lundstram only started five league matches in the entirety of 2018/19. Now the midfielder is an integral part of Wilder’s starting XI after joining from Oxford United for £700,000 (FourFourTwo) in 2017.
Oliver Norwood
Norwood has been promoted from the second tier in three successive seasons with three different clubs. The Blades have finally given the 28-year-old his chance in the Premier League after signing him permanently from Brighton and Hove Albion in January for £2m (Sky Sports).
Enda Stevens
The year before Stevens arrived at Bramall Lane in 2017 on a free transfer the left-back was playing League Two football with Portsmouth. Now many consider him among the leading players in the position in the top flight.