Michael Owen says Sheffield United can’t be written off in their bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
It’s after their shock 2-1 victory at Manchester United – whom Owen won the title with in 2010/11.
It’s only the Blades’ second league win of the season and still leaves them bottom with just eight points from 20 games.
Yet they have now won two of their last three league outings and four from five in all competitions.
“It’s the strangest season of all time potentially, so who can write them off?” Owen told the official Premier League website.
“Based on what they were like last season, then you can’t totally write them off. They showed unbelievable form last season.
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“They’ve got it in them. The squad hasn’t changed that much since last season. In fact, they’ve added a few players to it and spent a fair bit of money.
“We all think they’re going to go down, it’s a mountain to climb. But it’s not like they haven’t shown it before. They haven’t come up from the Championship and we’re wondering; ‘have they got it in them?’
“Last season they were brilliant. So, if they can repeat that.”
Is Michael Owen right?
Of course there is a chance that the Blades could pull off arguably the greatest escape in English top flight history.
At the halfway point, with just five points to their name, they were on course for the lowest total ever in the Premier League.
That unwanted record is currently held by Derby County, who finished with 11 points in 2007/08.
Yet Blades midfielder Ben Osborn recently spoke about how this squad feels very different to that Derby team – based on an article he read.
Osborn believes there is more fight and belief and they certainly showed that at Old Trafford.
The South Yorkshire side remain 10 points from safety and clawing that back is going to be extremely difficult.
But their form in 2021 so far has given all involved with the club a glimmer of hope.