What a season it’s been for Sheffield United.
The Yorkshire club have finally escaped the constraints of the third tier of English football, and will play in the Championship next year for the first time in six years.
Chris Wilder’s side have strolled to the title, and wrapped up the crown with victory over Northampton on 8th April.
A number of key stars have impressed this season, and top scorer Billy Sharp was recently named the Sky Bet League One Player of the Year.
Wilder’s title push has seen chances for youngsters limited this season, but United have two players on their books who may well be fighting for a place in the Blades line up by the time the Sky Bet Championship season kicks off in August.
Here we take a look at the TWO players Wilder may promote to his first team squad....
Ben Whiteman
Coming through the ranks of Manchester United’s famed academy, Whiteman was released by the Old Trafford side before being picked up by Sheffield United.
The 20-year-old has already made eight appearances for the Blades since joining in 2014, but linked up with Mansfield Town in League Two at the start of this season.
Whiteman has had a good season with the Stags, and has found the net on 6 occasions in 21 appearances for the Field Mill side over the course of the campaign.
Whiteman will link up with the Blades again this summer, and will hope a strong preseason will be enough to convince Christ Wilder that the youngster deserves a place in his squad.
Jordan Hallam
Youngster Hallam is an extremely exciting prospect in the Sheffield United academy.
The forward has had a fantastic season in United’s U-23 side, and in a fixture with Bristol City, found the back of the net on no less than 4 occasions in a 5-0 thrashing of the Robins’ youngsters.
Hallam made his first team bow in a Checkatrade tie with Grimsby in November, and the debutant impressed in a 4-2 win over the Mariners.
The teenager is fantastic in front of goals, and is the top scorer for the U-23 side.
He is also strong from the set piece, and was complimented for his delivery during his debut match at Grimsby.
Hallam is extremely close to breaking into the first team on a regular basis, and next season Blades fans should be seeing much more of the young forward.