Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has defended Oli McBurnie and other new signings at the club.
The Blades broke their transfer record three times this summer bringing in new forwards. First Callum Robinson joined from Preston North End and then Lys Mousset was signed from Bournemouth.
McBurnie was the most expensive of the lot, with the striker leaving Swansea City for Bramall Lane in a deal worth up to £20m (BBC).
All three have since opened their goal scoring accounts for United. Robinson netted in the 2-2 draw at Chelsea, before Mousset was on target as Wilder’s men won 2-0 at Everton.
McBurnie scored in the 2-1 defeat to Leicester City. The Scotland international also thought he had equalised against Southampton, only for the goal to be rightly ruled out by VAR.
Why Chris Wilder has defended Oli McBurnie and other newbies
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Heading into tonight’s Premier League match with Arsenal, the Blades are among the lowest scorers in the division. Only Newcastle United and Watford have netted fewer than their seven goals and they are both in the bottom three.
These issues finding the back of the net has lead to some criticism of the strikers at the club. Yet Wilder thinks the fans need to give them more time.
“They’re not established Premier League players. I think it’s really harsh on them to be critical,” the 52-year-old told Sky Sports.
“Mousset is finding his feet – he didn’t play a lot of games at Bournemouth – and Oli’s finding his feet.
“I can’t do anything about the price tag – these were the players we could get in terms of attitude, quality, how we play and how we feel they can improve. Now we have to let them grow.
“I’ve got to give them time, we’ve got to give them time as a football club and from a fans’ point of view, they need time and support.”