Sheffield United planning George Baldock tribute vs Leeds after 'difficult' week

Chris Wilder has admitted that have found it “really difficult” to focus on football since the .

Baldock was in last week, prompting an outpouring of emotion across the football . The 31-year-old left Sheffield United for Panathinaikos in the summer after making 219 appearances for the Blades over seven years.

The right-back twice helped Sheffield United achieve promotion from the Championship to the and was a well-liked member of the squad. The Blades return to Championship action against Leeds on Friday night in what would normally be a feisty Yorkshire derby.

But the fixture at Elland Road will have a different feel, with Sheffield United playing for the first time since Baldock’s untimely passing. Wilder wants his players to “channel” their feelings and has pointed to the way over England at Wembley on Thursday as an example.

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Asked how the last week had been, Wilder said: “Difficult. Really difficult. It puts everything into perspective doesn't it? We're in the industry of football, we're football people but there's something miles more big than a game of football on Friday. I'm sat in front of [the media] and having to talk about the game and the sad passing of a player who meant so much to everybody at Sheffield United.”

Wilder signed Baldock for the Blades from MK Dons back in 2017 and spent hours in his company, much like many of his players. "I think people don't realise how close these boys are,” he said. “The culture and unity we try to create, the environment and togetherness that has to be there if you want to be a successful team. In there there's relationships right the way through.

“I spoke to the players pretty quickly after the passing of George and said what he was about, my memories of him and if you didn't know him, do your research and speak to the players that have been in contact with him. They're together five or six days a week 9-4, travelling on coaches, training everyday, hotels for away games.

“Their connection is huge and I think sometimes that goes under the radar. You might see an aunty or uncle once every three or four weeks, you might see a friend once every two or three months but these boys are in each other's pockets 24/7 for 10 to 11 months of the year."

Wilder also suggested that Leeds and Sheffield United will pay tribute to Baldock before kick-off. He told the : “I'm sure there's going to be something before by the two clubs but then it's game on and when it's game on, George's attitude would have been that: 'game on, we are coming in your backyard and we are going to try and make it as difficult as possible for you to beat us.’”

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