Expectations on Sheffield United are enormous according to boss Kevin Blackwell.

Speaking in regards to the Premier League promotion play-off they lost to Burnley last season, Blackwell believes that high expectations and expected results can go a long way to hurting players' confidence, especially at a big club.

"People talk about expectations and confidence," said Blackwell.

"If you are not expected to do anything, expectations won't crush you but at this club expectations can crush you.

"Going back to the final at Wembley, there were no real expectations on Burnley but there was a massive expectation on Sheffield United.

"It was Burnley's 'day out' and they were going to make the best of it.

"Our players always had fears about not doing it. Look at all the young players who played and four or five never 'turned up'.

"It's all about finding a happy medium and if you don't get the right players in, they will not handle life at a big club. We are building a young side: Treacey 20, Quinn 22, Walker 19, who have to learn to handle the expectations. Hopefully, that will happen and the confidence will come with results."

Blackwell believes that the amount of new players at Bramall Lane has made it hard to settle in the early stages of the new season but is confident things will return to normal soon.

"Apart from Ched Evans and Lee Williamson, every new player has been a free signing or a loan," he added.

"The parachute payments are gone and we have had to restructure the club financially to make sure we are in a good position.

"I have not had the luxury of a settled side because we have had to chop and change so much. Yet we are still sixth so the players coming in are doing a great job."