Stevens Embracing ‘Tough’ Start

Enda Stevens knows Sheffield United face a ‘tough’ start to life back in the Premier League but he is embracing the challenge. The Blades are preparing for their first season back in the top flight for 12 years and they have been handed a testing opening to the new campaign as they will kick-off away at Bournemouth on August 10 before facing back-to-back home games against Crystal Palace and Leicester.

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Stevens is relishing the prospect of the new campaign getting underway, although he believes the fixtures they have over the opening weeks of the season show how tough life in the Premier League is going to be. “It’s a tough start, with an away trip to Bournemouth, but then you’ve got the excitement of two homes games back-to-back,” Stevens told the club website.

“We know we’re coming up against some really good teams and some big clubs, who’ve been in the Premier League for a number of years.” The Republic of Ireland international believes Chris Wilder’s side should follow the example of the team they play on the opening day of the season, as Bournemouth are preparing for their fifth-straight campaign in the top flight, despite initially being written off following promotion in 2015. “The manager at Bournemouth has taken the team and club a very long way and they’ve maintained their Premier League status for quite a while, it’s something we want to do ourselves,” Stevens added.