Ruben Selles already tipped for managerial role after being replaced by Chris Wilder at Sheffield United

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Sheffield United sacked Ruben Selles and have reinstated Chris Wilder as manager for the third time, and one EFL expert has a solution for Selles.

Ruben Selles was in charge of Sheffield United for just six games, losing each and every one of them. That includes five league defeats to leave the Blades bottom ahead of Chris Wilder’s return.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
19	DerbyDerby	5	1	2	2	8	11	-3	5
20	Hull CityHull City	5	1	2	2	7	11	-4	5
21	WrexhamWrexham	5	1	1	3	8	10	-2	4
22	Oxford UnitedOxford United	5	0	2	3	6	9	-3	2
23	Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday	5	0	1	4	3	12	-9	1
24	Sheffield UtdSheffield Utd	5	0	0	5	1	12	-11	0

It is clear to see why the Blades hierarchy were ‘staggered’ at Selles and the job he did, as an EFL Analysis exclusive revealed. That is perhaps due to the jobs he did with Hull City in keeping them in the division.

But also with Reading FC, where he was able to maintain a strong league position in difficult circumstances off the pitch and with a young core taking to the field on the pitch every week.

• READ MORE: Marti Cifuentes told to use Leicester City player more who made ‘huge difference’ vs Oxford United

George Elek outlines former Reading boss Ruben Selles’ next steps after Sheffield United

Sacking Wilder and Selles in a matter of months only to re-hire the former has been costly for the ownership group. We also revealed the financial details of Wilder’s Sheffield United return.

The decision to sack Wilder in June has been labelled as ‘mad’. However, Sheffield United fans have all been desperate for Wilder’s return. They have got their way with Selles now out of a job.

EFL expert Ali Maxwell had his say on Wilder’s Sheffield United return, as has his NTT20 co-host George Elek regarding the Wilder decision. The latter has also detailed what is next for Selles in English football.

He said: “It never really looked like Reading were going to be able to score that equaliser. I think, you know, if I was going to speculate as to who the next manager to be sacked in League One will be [Noel Hunt].

“Although maybe sack is the wrong word because it just wouldn’t surprise me at all if Reading are immediately picking up the phone to Ruben Selles and saying, ‘we’ve had one come back and someone slipping into your position’.

“Or say, ‘how do you fancy your job back? Noel, you’re a club legend and we really like you. But you weren’t very good at it.

“So, yeah, we’ll see. But, you know, it feels really obvious to me that Ruben Selles is probably unlikely to get another Championship job anytime soon and he needs to go somewhere who appreciate him.

“He’s, as is always the way when a manager — especially one that isn’t very experienced — has a really poor spell in charge of a club, he is — by a lot of fans — being perceived as some kind of clown.

“And he’s quite obviously not a clown. And he’s a very good coach who’s shown over a much longer period of time away from Sheffield United that he is. Even at Hull, but mostly, of course, at Reading.

“And I think they’d be mad not to try and bring him back in.”

• READ MORE: Sheffield United fans will love passionate Chris Wilder speech about state of club

Ruben Selles’ managerial record in England

Wilder has spoken about Selles leaving Sheffield United, but it’s evident that he is a promising coach. That is not based on the job he did at Bramall Lane, but more so his outstanding work for other English clubs.

He learned plenty from a difficult spell at Southampton, becoming a manager who was then adopting a Red Bull-style 4-2-2-2 to now utilising more of a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 in his other roles with the Tigers and the Royals.

It worked for Hull and he was harshly sacked, but Reading is the best work of his career in English football. The 42-year-old will have lessons to take home from his latest stint, however.