Chelsea will not regret Sheffield United agreement involving Alfie Gilchrist: View | OneFootball

The Blues loanee has already established himself as a top performer at Bramall Lane

It may be early days, but Alfie Gilchrist is already proving just what a bright future he has ahead of him while on loan at Sheffield United.

The 20-year-old has been an ever-present in the Championship for Chris Wilder’s side so far this season, with his performances at right-back earning plenty of plaudits from those at Bramall Lane.

Having made a spattering of Premier League appearances during the previous campaign, the move to Yorkshire represents the chance for the young star to prove himself in the professional game, and he is taking it with both hands.

His energy and his enthusiasm are exactly the sort of traits that a manager like Chris Wilder laps up, and both the Blues and the Blades are likely to benefit from their summer negotiations.

Alfie Gilchrist impresses in early Sheffield United performances

While Gilchrist has the assuredness on the ball that you would expect from anyone that has progressed through the Chelsea academy, it is his intense work rate and defensive attributes that have caught the eye as much as anything while he has been in the Steel City.

The defender is never one to back out of a challenge, and is up to the task of battling any forward that comes his way, and he usually comes out of those duels as the winner.

Right from the off, Blades fans will have been enthralled by their new recruit’s ability to thwart any attacker dead in their tracks, with no other United player topping his tally of nine dribblers challenged to start the campaign.

The 20-year-old also leads the way in terms of blocks, with eleven attempted shots or crosses failing to find their man due to the young star’s anticipation, which has led to Wilder’s men being able to keep a tight ship at the start of the campaign.

The red and white side have only conceded three goals in their opening five league matches of the season, and are currently yet to taste defeat with three victories and two draws to their name after dropping down from the Premier League.

The way in which Gilchrist has slipped into his role in the backline has been paramount to that, with the young star looking like he has played alongside his teammates for years, rather than weeks.

Chris Wilder heaps praise on Alfie Gilchrist after start to Sheffield United life

There is nothing a Sheffield United fan loves more than a player putting their body on the line and giving their all for the club week after week, so it is no surprise that Chris Wilder has already taken a shine to his new addition.

The United boss said earlier this week about the Chelsea loanee: “You want to see him in training, the amount of badges he gets on his body and the blocks he gets in.

“There's an art to that and there's an attitude to that. Even in training, he’s determined that the ball isn’t going into the back of the net. He’s got a real grit about him and we’re delighted with him.

“He’s settled in well, as have all the new boys. There's a real good feel about it, the group are really together.

“I think you've seen that right the way through, it's a together group. it needed that refresh, I wasn't being critical of anything but it needed that and there's a good vibe about it. Alfie's done well.”

While Sheffield United are gaining the short-term benefits of Gilchrist’s performances this season, there will be plenty of eyes on him from Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea keep an eye on one of their many loanees.

The Blues were willing to give the young star eleven appearances in the top flight last season, including two starts, and obviously see him as a top talent for the future; a reputation that he continues to add to with every match that passes at Bramall Lane.

A year in the Championship is enough to toughen any footballer up, such are the trials and tribulations, and both sides are looking like being the winners in that particular summer deal, with Gilchrist already proving himself to be one of the first names on the teamsheet.