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Jamie Vardy may be a Sheffield Wednesday supporter but he has a big fan in Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder.

Leicester City frontman Vardy returns to his hometown this weekend hoping to score his first goal of the season and grab victory against his boyhood club’s rivals at Bramall Lane.

But while the rivalry is fierce in the Steel City, Blades boss Wilder put that to one side to describe Owls fan Vardy is an “inspiration” because of his journey from non-league to Premier League winner.

“The elite players are the ones who hurt you are at the top of the pitch and there’s a certain lad who wants to do well, who supports the other firm from down the road,” Wilder said.

"Listen, I've got pals who are Sheffield Wednesday supporters. I've got nothing but respect for his career and what he's done. It's an inspiration for others.

“I've got a lot of respect, with my career, for the grassroots game.

“Looking at the clips against Chelsea, looking at the desire on his face, he's still got that hunger."

Sheffield United are unbeaten after their first two games back in the Premier League, drawing with Bournemouth before beating Crystal Palace.

Leicester should be the Blades’ most difficult task so far, but Wilder says it’s “not a step up”.

“The manager will have been disappointed to lose Harry (Maguire)," Wilder said. "But they've got world-class players who could fill in.

“Brendan is a fantastic manager and his team are tipped to go well.

“It's not a step up in challenge, it's just a different challenge.

“Look at Bournemouth beating Chelsea (last season), look at Palace's away record which is excellent. Leicester will push, you'd think, for the top six. I'm just enjoying watching my team and what they do.

"Everybody has their own expectations. “They (Leicester) won it three or four years ago. Our ambition is to win a game of football.

“To give ourselves the best opportunity, that's the way it has to be. That's how we deal with their threats and they've got huge threats. But we want, as always, to pose problems of our own."