Sheffield United and Chris Wilder are the envy of the Championship when it comes to this department: View | OneFootball

Sheffield United's central midfield options are among the best in the Championship.

It has been a strong start to life back in the Championship for Sheffield United.

United were relegated from the Premier League last season after a disastrous campaign that saw them accumulate just 16 points but they look in a strong position to bounce back at the first attempt this term.

Despite operating against a backdrop of takeover uncertainty, it was a strong summer transfer window for the Blades, with manager Chris Wilder bringing in 10 new signings, including the likes of Michael Cooper, Harrison Burrows, Callum O'Hare, and Kieffer Moore.

United have made an impressive start to life back in the Championship and while they were held to a 0-0 draw by winless Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Saturday, the point extended their unbeaten run to seven league games.

WIlder's men currently sit sixth in the table, although they would be level on points with second-placed Sunderland had they not received a two-point deduction, and they are back in action when they host Swansea City at Bramall Lane on Wednesday night.

The Blades' squad is widely considered to be one of the best in the Championship but their central midfield options in particular are likely to be viewed with envy by their second tier rivals.

Central midfield is Sheffield United's biggest asset

After their humiliating relegation season, Wilder made the bold decision to release a number of senior players at the end of their contracts, including the likes of Wes Foderingham, George Baldock, John Egan, Max Lowe, Oliver Norwood, Ben Osborn and Oli McBurnie.

The departures of Norwood and Osborn, who had been crucial to United's success in recent years, raised fears that Wilder could be left light in central midfield, but that has certainly not proved to be the case, and they currently have an embarrassment of riches in the middle of the park.

One of the stars of the season so far for the Blades has undoubtedly been Ollie Arblaster, who has firmly established himself in the first team since being recalled from his loan spell at Port Vale in January.

Arblaster was handed the captain's armband by Wilder towards the back end of last season in the Premier League, hinting that he was a big part of his future plans, and prior to picking up an injury that has ruled him out of the last two games, he scored two goals in the opening five games of the campaign.

The 20-year-old is one of the brightest talents in the Championship, and United will be relieved to have kept hold of him this summer after he was linked with Brighton & Hove Albion, Brentford, Ipswich Town and Southampton, but it will not be long before he attracts interest from elsewhere once again.

Despite being the subject of a £15 million bid from Fulham and interest from AC Milan, another player that the Blades surprisingly managed to retain was Vinicius Souza, who was one of few to emerge with any credit from last season, and he has enjoyed an outstanding start to the new campaign.

O'Hare was arguably United's standout signing this summer on a free transfer from Coventry City, with the Bramall Lane outfit beating the likes of Leeds United, Southampton, Burnley, Celtic, Rangers and La Liga clubs to his signature, and while he has provided just two assists in seven games so far this season and is yet to get on the scoresheet, he will be a key player over the course of the campaign.

The latest star to emerge from the Blades' academy is Sydie Peck, who has seamlessly slotted into the starting line-up in the last two games in Arblaster's absence, with Wilder admitting that he is "not surprised" by his impressive introduction to senior football.

Wilder also has summer signing Jamie Shackleton at his disposal, and forgotten man Tom Davies was recently spotted back in training after a spell on the sidelines with injury.

Sheffield United's midfield strength is underlined by Gustavo Hamer switch

Such is United's remarkable strength in depth in midfield, Gustavo Hamer has been moved out to a wide left position in order to accommodate the likes of Arblaster, Souza, and O'Hare.

Hamer scored five goals and registered seven assists in 38 appearances last season playing in the number 10 role, while he previously excelled there for Coventry in the Championship, but Wilder has opted to deploy him on the wing so far this season.

That has not been a problem for Hamer, with the 27-year-old scoring four goals and providing one assist in his first nine appearances of the campaign, and the Blades will be relieved they were able to keep hold of him this summer after turning down a bid of around £13 million from Leeds late in the window.