







Ahead of Saturday's season opener with Bournemouth, we caught up with ex-Blade Neill Collins, and get his thoughts on the Blades chances this season.





Neill is the Manager of Tampa Bay Rowdies over in America but keeps a close eye on United from afar having made over 175 appearances in red and white.





How do you rate the Blades chances in the coming season back in the Premier League?

I think with Chris Wilder at the helm anything is possible. I don’t understand why people are underestimating him and the team but I have no doubt they will use the doubters as motivation to prove people wrong. Staying up is always the aim in the first year and I feel they will have a great chance of doing that.





Of the summer signings so far – who do you feel can have the most impact this coming season?

Out of the summer signings I think Phil Jagielka could be the most important. His know how along with his undoubted quality will be much needed alongside the other players who have yet to taste the Premier League.





Do you feel the lads who played and earned promotion from the Championship can take the step up the Premier League?

I think out of the players that got promoted some will fare very well and others will fall by the wayside it is the same with every promotion team. It is a different level with different demands. Bournemouth have shown that players can adapt and become Premiership players so I don’t see why players like O’Connell and Stevens cannot do the same





Which of the current squad would you most like to sign for Tampa Bay Rowdies and why?

Out of the current squad I would take Billy Sharp for the quote obvious reason he puts the ball in the net. I spent some time with him in the summer as he came to one of our games while on holiday. I tried to tempt him here but I think the lure of playing in the Premiership for his boyhood club edged it so I will need to wait for a couple of years to get him over to Florida.





UTB.

@sufc_memories