Sheffield United have enjoyed an excellent start to the season since their promotion from League One last year, and the Blades lie in third position following the opening eleven rounds of Championship action.

The squad looks confident and assured under impressive boss Chris Wilder, and fans of the south Yorkshire side are beginning to feel that back-to-back promotions to the Premier League is a distinct possibility.

Wilder has worked well to improve his squad with a number of young players from across the Football League, as well as elevating several of the Blades homegrown talents into the first team squad to supplement the more experienced pros at the club.

Several of these young guns have developed at an accelerated speed since the start of the season, and their progression from academy youngsters to first team stars could save the club millions of transfer fees in the coming years.

Here are just a few of the young guns with massive potential on the books at Bramall Lane…

David Brooks

After spending ten years in the Manchester City academy, Sheffield United picked the young Welshman up in 2014 on a free transfer, and the move has certainly paid off this season.

The youngster has been sensational, assisting twice in only three league starts, with his form earning him a first senior call-up to the Welsh national side earlier this month.

Brooks has attracted the attentions of Premier League suitors, but Wilder will be keen to ensure that the 20-year-old remains with the Blades for the foreseeable future.

If the club can keep hold of him, they won’t need to invest in an attacking midfielder for years.

Jack O’Connell

O’Connell’s mature performances at the heart of the Sheffield United defence make people believe that this youngster is a lot older than most think, but the Liverpool born man is still only 23-years-old.

Graduating from the Blackburn academy before impressing with Rochdale United, the player was picked up by London side Brentford, but the switch south did not work out for the player, and O’Connell headed back north to the Blades last year.

The move proved a masterstroke, and O’Connell quickly established himself as the best central defender at the club, and has been the best player on the park for the Blades this year.

Keep hold of him, and they have a future captain in the making.

Blades fans, are you excited by the future of the young pair? Have your say below...