SHEFFIELD United manager Kevin Blackwell has told his players that this season's battle for promotion will be settled in their own minds.
Blackwell's arrival at Bramall Lane last term coincided with a remarkable improvement in results which saw the South Yorkshire side climb from midtable to within touching distance of a top-six finish.
As his team prepare to begin their latest assault on the Premier League with a potentially explosive fixture at Birmingham tomorrow, Blackwell said: "The way the lads signed off shows that they are good enough.
"Now it's up to them to do it again.
"This club can go wherever it wants to go.
"It's vision is way beyond Sheffield and the sky's the limit.
"We've got two clubs in this city that any city in the country would be proud to have.
"Our ground is Premiership quality, our training facilities are Premiership quality and the chairman's vision doesn't just stop at Sheffield; it's global.
"It's imperative that we get into the Premiership.
"If these lads continue to believe in themselves then anything is possible."
The trip to St Andrews pits United against another of the teams expected to mount a strong challenge and Blackwell added: "It's a tough start but Birmingham will be saying exactly the same thing."
United's entire staff spent yesterday being briefed on the Football Association's 'Respect' campaign which could see substitutes and even physios sent off for dissent.
With Blackwell keen to avoid any unnecessary brushes with officialdom, a referee visited Shirecliffe to discuss the new rulings.
Revealing that United's squad already know his starting 11 in the Midlands, Blackwell said: "I've told the lads who have missed out that I hope they have to work damn hard to get back in.
"You've got to have competition for places and I think it's strong here."
Sheffield United: Preview for the season, including ins and outs and squad numbers. Don't miss Saturday's Green'Un newspaper What do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Football headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 364 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
