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David Prutton explains why Sheffield United were right to reappoint Chris Wilder as manager

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David Prutton has supported Sheffield United’s decision to reappoint Chris Wilder as manager.

Blades fans are delighted that Wilder has returned, just three months after he was sacked by COH Sports.

Replacement Ruben Selles never managed a single win and only one goal in their first five Championship games, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the table.

Neil Warnock’s 2021 warning to Wilder could’ve played on his conscience before agreeing to become the Blades boss for a third time, but Prutton thinks it is the right call.

Chris Wilder, manager of Sheffield United
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images

David Prutton says Chris Wilder has ‘unfinished business’ at Sheffield United

Wilder was sacked after Sheffield United’s play-off final defeat to Sunderland, but it seemed that there were tensions behind the scenes too.

A return to the Premier League is the primary aim for the Yorkshire club and Prutton thinks that Wilder is the man best suited to deliver that target.

He told Sky Sports: “A change of direction is what they were after. To sound a bit cynical, they got it but in the completely the wrong direction.

“Sometimes it is not necessarily about one man that can do it on the pitch with the players he has got, it is about the feel of the place.

“Sheffield United are a unique football club. There is a real identity with it. Sheffield has got a real identity as a city. Given what he has done, he certainly has unfinished business there.”

How many points should Chris Wilder target from his first five games?

Sheffield United need to start picking up points quickly.

Nobody has run away with it at the top of the Championship, and there are still 41 games to go. That is plenty of time to pull things back, but the atmosphere needs to change quickly.

On paper, the first two games of the new Wilder era should see them class themselves as the favourites.

Newly promoted Charlton Athletic have looked solid under Nathan Jones while Gary Rowett will make Oxford United difficult to beat.

Southampton, Hull City and Watford all pose different kinds of challenges, but if the Blades boss can come away with anywhere north of 12 points, then that can be a good foundation to build off.