Stuart Rayner
Published5th Feb 2026, 10:14 GMT
Having played there for Leeds United in different top-of-the-Championship games, the midfielders know full well what it can be like, and it was probably a big reason why they wanted to join.
Tuesday's 3-1 win over Oxford United was a reminder they have not picked an easy option, but that it can be a very rewarding one.
The special Bramall Lane atmosphere took a bit of a night off, and no one can be blamed for that.
Sheffield United new signing Kalvin Phillips is introduced to the crowd before the Sheffield United vs Oxford United at Bramall Lane on Tuesday (Picture: Simon Bellis / Sportimage)placeholder image
Sheffield United new signing Kalvin Phillips is introduced to the crowd before the Sheffield United vs Oxford United at Bramall Lane on Tuesday (Picture: Simon Bellis / Sportimage)
It was snowy, wet and cold. Not many Oxford fans made the trip and there were gaps in the home sections.
A flat atmosphere begat a flat performance and it took a while for the players to fight their way out of the circle.
When relegation-threatened Oxford pounced on Michael Cooper's unsatisfactory save to lead through Myles Peart-Harris they had a lead to get behind – literally.
But Gustavo Hamer did his best to bring some pizzazz, Oliver Arbslaster and Harrison Burrows brilliantly created an equaliser coolly finished by Sydie Peck; Andre Brooks kept calm and carried on his goalscoring run – now three in three – and Chiedozie Ogbene controlled a sweeping Hamer pass on the run to score his first Blades goal.
Set-piece specialist Joe Rothwell (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe)placeholder image
Set-piece specialist Joe Rothwell (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe)
And the job got done.
Phillips, pictured, and Rothwell will have no doubt got character references from Patrick Bamford before joining, but this was another.
When Wilder was asked if he would put an arm around Phillips during a loan designed to get a career which has lost its way at Manchester City, his eyes narrowed.
“He doesn't need any help, he's had a brilliant career,” he growled. “I'm not there to rub his head.
“I'll talk to him and we'll all help him but he knows how to win football matches, he knows how to play well, he's had an outstanding career and there's no reason why we can't help him get back to where he wants to be.”
How long that will take is a question for a player due to go back at the end of a season in which so far he has only played seven minutes (plus stoppage time).
“He's in good shape, he just needs to get into a rhythm and get opportunities,” said Wilder. “He will maybe need two, three or four games.” But his mere presence, and that of Rothwell, have lifted spirits.
“We've historically done it,” said Wilder of his record of bringing in players others have turned their noses up at.
“When somebody walks through the changing room door with the calibre and the stature of the players that we've brought in it just lifts everybody. It raises me, raises the coaches and most importantly the standard of the training and the players' attitude towards it.
“If players don't like it then really they should be looking for another job because competition is key and you have to fight your way in.”
Welcome to Bramall Lane, boys, but be ready for a fight.