Vini Souza reacts to Sydie Peck's defiant Sheffield United message | OneFootball

Sheffield United have got off to the worst possible start under Ruben Selles

Former Sheffield United midfielder Vini Souza has issued his support to Sydie Peck after the academy graduate posted a defiant message after the Blades' tough start to life under Ruben Selles.

The Spaniard, who swiftly moved to Bramall Lane in June after his dismissal at Hull City to replace the controversially-sacked Chris Wilder, couldn't have envisaged a worse start to life in the Steel City, with his new chargers defeated in all three Championship encounters thus far, as well as being knocked out by Birmingham City in the EFL Cup First Round.

Despite the mass overhaul of players and staff, alongside a newly-adopted AI-based recruitment model through ownership group, COH Sports, many still tipped United to make a run for the play-offs yet again after agonisingly missing out on an immediate return to the Premier League in last term's play-off final vs Sunderland at Wembley Stadium.

In a bid to keep supporters on side, Peck has issued a rallying cry to those in S2, with plenty of current and ex-teammates sending their backing to the 20-year-old midfielder.

Vini Souza issues support to Sheffield United's Sydie Peck after defiant social media message

The South Yorkshire side have opened Selles' second-tier reign as one of just two sides to have lost all three games alongside Oxford United, with a surprise opening-day 4-1 defeat to Bristol City - who the Blades demolished in last campaign's play-off semi-finals - followed by narrow 1-0 defeats away to Swansea City and most recently, to Millwall at Bramall Lane.

There was the odd glimmer of improvement against Alex Neil's side on Saturday, with the likes of Louie Barry, Gus Hamer and Callum O'Hare impressively denied by Steven Benda after Luke Cundle's first-half winner. However, even just weeks into his reign, Selles is already under intense scrutiny in S2, although Peck believes the tide will soon turn, sending a defiant message on his Instagram account.

"Knocked down 3, stand up 4," he began. "It’s a marathon not a sprint."

"Tough times require togetherness."

Souza is one of several high-profile departures who have moved on from the Championship side this summer, with the tenacious box-to-box midfielder moving to Bundesliga side Wolfsburg for £15m sum on a five-year contract. The Brazilian has since made his first two appearances for 'Die Weißgrunen', but that hasn't stopped him from supporting his old club from afar, responding to his former midfield partner's post with "Vamos, my brother!!!"

The likes of Rhian Brewster, now of Derby County following his own departure from Bramall Lane, former loanee Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and current Blades - Sam McCallum and Andre Brooks - also sent responses to Peck, who has featured in all four of United's games across all competitions.

Ruben Selles will hope new recruits can eventually make the difference for Sheffield United

It has been an extremely mixed transfer window for Blades supporters, with the squad undoubtedly looking weaker than the one which lined up at Wembley three months ago amid the loss of Anel Ahmedhodzic at the heart of defence, as well as Souza's dominating presence in the middle of the park.

Selles was able to bolster his ranks with the captures of Ben Godfrey on loan from Atalanta and Nils Zatterstrom from Malmö prior to Saturday's defeat, with a deal for Japhet Tanganga of Millwall also nearing completion after it was reported on Monday night that a fee had been agreed between the two Championship sides.

The 42-year-old admitted post-match that his side "are in a tough situation," with sections of the support-base left unconvinced by performances thus far, even though there are still 42 games remaining for the Blades to turn their fortunes around and end the post play-off-final hangover.

They are next in action on Saturday against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium in what is an early 'top vs bottom' showdown, with Rob Edwards winning all three of his first matches in charge on Teesside against Swansea, Millwall and Norwich City.