By Paddy Kenny

29th Oct, 2021 | 3:00pm

Kenny hails crunch Sheffield United talks after what he' seen 'in person'

Sheffield United need their leaders to step up to the plate if they are to win promotion from Championship this season.

So says ex-Blades shot-stopper Paddy Kenny, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the character of Slavisa Jokanovic’s squad.

The Star reported on 26 October that the manager recently held a meeting with his players on the subject of leadership and personal responsibility.

United sit 14th in the second-tier after 14 games and are performing well below expectations following last season’s relegation.

Kenny was in attendance as United survived a late rally to beat Yorkshire rivals Barnsley 3-2 on 24 October.

And what he saw at Oakwell proved that Jokanoivc was right to address the leadership deficit in his squad, insists the Bramall Lane icon.

“It probably is to do with character more than tactics,” he told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams.

“I went to watch them in person at Barnsley last Sunday. The first half was bad, they were both turning over possession constantly.

“There was no one with any personality. In those games, you need someone to take control and boss people about sometimes.

“When I was at Sheffield United, we had Chris Morgan and myself. They need someone to step up to the plate and start demanding more from everyone.

“You can’t all be friends all the time. When you cross that white line, you might fall out until you put things right. That’s what needs to happen.”

In other news, Kenny claims Sheffield United loanee Gibbs-White will fetch Wolves “£30million”,