Nine nine nine: Why Chris Wilder saw urgent need for another Sheffield United striker

When Wilder speaks of “No 9s” he means a specific type of centre-forward who can provide a physical presence with his back to goal, hold the ball up and bring others into play.

He had one last season in Kieffer Moore, and was frustrated the Welshman was not replaced after being sold to Wrexham during the brief interlude of Ruben Selles’ tenure.

Wilder sees Tyrese Campbell as a player who can stretch defences by running the channels, and Danny Ings and Tom Cannon as operating best off a targetman. Ryan One has the physical attributes to be the No 9 Wilder wants, but at 19 his manager sees him as a work in progress.

So it was important to Wilder that he was able to sign free agent Bamford to fill the hole last month.

“I think English No 9s are very hard to source,” he commented. “We’ve got a young one in the building (One, who is Scottish but the point still stands) that is learning his trade. We think he is going to have a really good career but maybe not learning on the job at the moment because needs must.”

Not so long ago Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City were playing with “false nines” in the shape of Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Jesus and Phil Foden but as more direct football has come back into fashion, so has strikers who can provide a focal point for it.

“You see what Arsenal have got, they got in (Viktor) Gjokeres,” says Wilder. “I’m sure that two or three years ago people would have been scratching their head saying what are the Arsenal doing getting somebody who’s played played in Portugal and played in the Championship and he’s playing for arguably the best team in the country?

“There’s there’s the boy at Newcastle (Nick Woltemade), what Brentford have done, Danny Welbeck at Brighton in this so-called unbelievably footballing team and the biggest one is obviously the player at Manchester City (Erling Haaland).

“I think definitely there’s a place there’s a place for a No 9. I’ve always loved the No 9.

“It’s crucial from my point of view that we play the game three different ways if we have to, we’re not just stuck into this one way of playing. If we have to play through teams, around teams or over teams we’ll do that.

“It’s a fabulous addition to have that player.”