Chris Wilder will take charge of Sheffield United for the first time in his second spell tonight when the Blades host Liverpool at Bramall Lane. Wilder returned to United earlier this week after the sacking of Paul Heckingbottom, with the Blades bottom of the Premier League table.
He is no stranger to adversity at his boyhood club, however, having taken over the first time on the back of them finishing 11th in League One under Nigel Adkins. But what happened to the players who made up his first-ever squad, who were defeated in his first game away at Bolton Wanderers in August 2016? Let's take a look...
13. Jake Wright
A bargain signing that initially attracted little fanfare before Unitedites realised how important Wright’s experience and calmness was in the middle of their back three. Played for clubs including Bolton and Mansfield after leaving the Lane before signing in the summer of 2023 for Nottinghamshire outfit Sherwood Colliery, in the ninth-tier United Counties North Premier
14. Stefan Scougall
Diminutive forward Scougall was popular with Blades fans, not least for his goal at Wembley in the 2014 FA Cup semi-final against Hull. After leaving United, he moved to St Johnstone and Carlisle before returning north of the border to Scottish Championship club Alloa Athletic Photo: Pete Norton
15. Paul Coutts
A man who started the season on the periphery of Chris Wilder’s plans and ended it as a title winner and a key man going forward. United were flying in the Championship until he broke his leg at Burton and they never recovered. By the time Coutts did, Ollie Norwood had taken his place and he left for first-team football, landing at Fleetwood and Bristol Rovers. He has subsequently signed in the summer for Inverurie Loco Works, a semi-professional club in the Scottish Highland league Photo: Sport Image
16. Kieran Wallace
Joined from Ilkeston in 2014 after a successful trial. Linked up again with former boss Clough at Burton Albion in 2019 and then Mansfield Town, before moving to Hartlepool earlier this year Photo: Frank Reid