£3k-a-week Sheffield United star can fly under Chris Wilder at Bramall Lane | OneFootball

The Sheffield United midfielder could return to his best under Chris Wilder

The Blades have suffered a nightmare opening innings in the 2025/26 Championship campaign, losing the first five games of a Football League season for just the second time in their history.

Ruben Selles had been appointed as the Steel City side’s manager after Wilder was sacked for failing to secure a return to the Premier League last term, despite his United team becoming just the second outfit in the competition’s history to record 90 points but not achieve automatic promotion.

However, this disastrous run of form was enough to see the Spaniard dismissed after less than three months in the job, in turn paving the way for Wilder to make a sensational return to Bramall Lane.

Wilder has already made small tweaks to his coaching staff in a bid to get the Blades back on track, with journalist Alan Nixon reporting via his Patreon channel that under-21s coach Gary McSheffrey had been promoted to the first team.

Footage was released by Sheffield United via their social channels of Wilder meeting his squad for the first time since being reappointed and some players were visibly overjoyed to see the 55-year-old back with the club.

Understandably, one of these was Sydie Peck.

Chris Wilder, Sheffield United return will be a massive boost for Sydie Peck

Peck, who is reportedly earning just £3,000 per week according to Capology estimates, emerged as one of the Championship’s best young talents last season, after being given an extended run in Sheffield United’s midfield due to Ollie Arblaster’s ACL injury.

The 21-year-old instantly looked at home in Wilder’s engine room, with the manager going on record multiple times to state how impressed he was with Peck’s performances.

This would’ve given the young talent heaps of confidence and is the sort of stuff that helps build a really strong relationship between players and managers.

These bonds within a group can be crucial over 46 matches. Successful coaches across history may have been able to handle themselves tactically, but their man-management skills are what get title-winning campaigns over the line.

Peck has struggled for form at the start of the 2025/26 campaign, much like the rest of Sheffield United’s squad and failed to strike up a similar relationship with Selles.

Now Wilder is back at Bramall Lane, Peck could regain his confidence and begin to operate at the levels he showed he could last term.

This would be a huge plus for Sheffield United, as their midfield has been a point of major concern during the opening rounds of this season.

The Blades lost the tenacity and industry of Vini Souza to Wolfsburg in the summer and will hope that the likes of Alex Matos and Djibril Soumare can help, but Peck back at his best would also go a long way to rectifying that problem, which in turn would lead directly to victories.

Chris Wilder could enjoy a similar effect on other players in the Sheffield United camp

When footage of Wilder greeting his squad was posted, several other players looked overjoyed too.

Tyrese Campbell couldn’t contain his delight at seeing his former boss back in charge and this positive mood could quickly spread around the Blades’ squad.

Soon, a feeling of optimism may once again fill the air around the training ground, which will translate to better performances on the pitch.

A few victories will create momentum and before long, Sheffield United could shoot back up the Championship table with performances that are reminiscent of last season’s title-chasing outfit.