After three new additions and a two week break, this is where the season must start for Sheffield United

After a dismal opening five league games of the season, in which just two points have been picked up, Sheffield United already find themselves playing catch up as the Championship returns following the international break.

Despite two victories in the League Cup against Carlisle United and Derby County, United are winless in the league thus far having scored just one goal whilst having an array of forwards on the pitch who arrived at Bramall Lane for significant transfer fees.

However, Slavisa Jokanovic was able to add three exciting players, albeit on loan deals, since the goalless draw at Luton Town last time out.

The signings of attacking midfielders Conor Hourihane and Morgan Gibbs-White as well as goalkeeper Robin Olsen will give the Serbian more options and quality, with the trio expected to be involved in the Blades’ next fixture at home to newly-promoted Peterborough United on Saturday.

Out of the three newbies, Olsen will certainly have the best chance of starting Saturday’s game against the Posh with the Swedish number one set to be first-choice in between the sticks for the entirety of the season after Aaron Ramsdale’s departure for Arsenal and the unimpressive performances from Michael Verrips and Wes Foderingham.

Hourihane and Gibbs-White should also prove strong alternatives with the former playing a pivotal role in Aston Villa’s 2018/19 promotion campaign and the latter still an exciting prospect for parent club Wolves with some Championship experience having been on loan at Swansea City at the start of last season before getting injured and being replaced by Hourihane in the second half of last term.

21-year-old Gibbs-White faced the media ahead of his potential debut on Saturday, saying: “Since I’ve been training the quality has been unbelievable. I think as soon as we get that first win, we won’t look back from there.

“I feel like I can bring that [final product] into United. We’ve been working hard together these past couple of weeks and built a good connection. We’re ready to showcase it on Sunday.”

As for Darren Ferguson’s Peterborough, the Cambridgeshire side have endured a mixed return to the second-tier having not played Championship football since 2013.

They sit 20th with four points from five games, all of which picked up at home. A dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Derby County and a 2-2 draw with Cardiff were sandwich by defeats to Luton Town, Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion.

The Posh are yet to score or pick up a point away from home thus far (albeit still very early days) and could prove to be the perfect opponent for the Blades to finally sharpen up and get off the mark.

However, they shouldn’t be underestimated with United failing to undo the likes of Birmingham, Huddersfield and Luton in games they would’ve certainly felt should’ve warranted points on paper.

If we’re speaking on ‘on paper’ terms, then Slavisa Jokanovic’s side should be up there with the likes of Fulham and West Brom who have started the campaign superbly with the quality that the 53-year-old’s side possesses.

For whatever reason, that hasn’t been the case…yet. Whether it’s a hangover from last term’s relegation, players not gelling or simply not being good enough is up for debate.

What is fact though, is that numerous players in this squad have excelled in the second-tier in previous seasons, plenty of whom were involved in the Blades’ 2018/19 promotion campaign.

Time will tell as to how United, their new signings and the team as a whole will fare this term. However, short-term, Saturday offers a good opportunity to finally get off of the mark and get their season up and running.

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