Chris Wilder has explained his team selection after handing Oliver Burke his full Premier League debut for Sheffield United against Aston Villa.
Chris Wilder said “I don’t think it’s his fault, he’s had a number of managers in his short career. Two big moves, going out to Leipzig was huge for him. The manager there is a world-famous manager that took him out there so they saw something in him. Obviously Tony (Pulis) saw something to bring him back. He had a quick turnaround in managers, it was Alan Pardew then Darren Moore and Slaven (Bilic) as well and he’s been out on loan. On reflection, from our point of view, we looked and thought what we needed this coming season was someone at the top of the pitch that had pace. We’re disappointed that Mousset isn’t available for us and he’s out for a little while. Oli has definitely got raw pace and you saw over the weekend and the way the Premier League is, they’re athletes and can take the ball from one end to the other. You saw in the Palace game, they sat in and broke deep and then broke which got them right up the pitch. He fives us something different that we hadn’t got and I’m delighted he’s with us.”
With Burke arriving in Sheffield as part of a swap deal including Callum Robinson, Wilder has thrown him into the team to face Villa due to his electric pace.