Sheffield United will be hoping to compete for promotion next season after coming close to earning a play-off spot last term.

Despite many tipping the Blades to struggle upon their return to the second tier, they defied expectations and were up there competing for most of the year before tailing off towards the end of the campaign and ending up just shy of the top six.

Chris Wilder will be hoping that this will set the perfect platform for his side to launch a promotion bid next year and eventually look to return to the Premier League.

Wilder will be running the rule over his squad when pre-season starts in a few weeks and some younger players will be hoping to impress.

Here are three youngsters who could surprise a few by earning a spot in the first-team next season.

Thomas had a difficult start to life at Sheffield United and his future looks far from certain.

But the 23-year-old had a reasonable stint on loan at Shrewsbury Town last year and could return to pre-season hungrier for success than he was before.

Sheffield United are short in the wing-back department, especially with Kieron Freeman's injury woes.

Wilder may feel it is time to promote Wales youth international Norrington-Davies, who has been on the first-team bench before.

Academy captain Slater is surely knocking on the door for first-team chances.

The Sheffield-born 18-year-old is a top talent and he has already played three games for the senior side, scoring in the Checkatrade Trophy against Grimsby Town in November 2016.