Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has highlighted the importance of having competition for places.
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Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder is backing Ki-Jana Hoever and Tahith Chong to “provide big competition” for Femi Seriki and Andre Brooks between now and the end of the campaign.
Both Seriki and Brooks were recalled to the starting line-up for Saturday’s 3-1 triumph over Ipswich Town at Bramall Lane after starting the 1-0 defeat at Southampton less than 72 hours earlier on the bench.
The duo have developed a strong rapport down United’s right flank in recent months and Brooks was on the scoresheet against Ipswich, scoring the Blades’ second to claim his second goal of the campaign and his first since October.
Both Hoever, who arrived on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month, and Chong, who joined the Blades from Luton Town last summer, attracted criticism from some supporters for their performances in the midweek defeat at St Mary’s, but Wilder acknowledged the importance of both Seriki and Brooks being granted breathers after they both completed the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 defeat at Charlton Athletic a few days earlier.
Although Seriki and Brooks are expected to continue forming Wilder’s first-choice partnership down the right-wing, the Blades boss has highlighted the importance of competition, insisting Hoever and Chong will challenge Seriki and Brooks for their places in the starting XI.
Wilder makes Hoever and Chong vow
Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield: “Femi and Brooksy have been great, but people realise we were in early on Monday morning, and we were looking at Brooksy, and he could hardly walk because of the effort he put in on Saturday and Charlton, and Femi.
“So we had a decision. Do we risk them midweek, or do we change it around? The two boys that have come into the football club have got to get up to speed, I totally understand that, but they are good players.
“Chongy has played in the Premier League and so has Ki-Jana. They will be good, and they will provide big competition for those two. But they are getting up to speed as well.
“There is a lot of noise out there and all we can do is do our best and represent the club in the best way and put a shift in.”
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