The Steel City derby is back, and the buzz around Sheffield is electric as Sheffield United prepare to host city rivals Sheffield Wednesday at Bramall Lane on Monday, February 23, 2026. For United’s young New Zealand international defender Tyler Bindon and recent loan signing Kalvin Phillips, the match represents more than just local bragging rights—it's a chance to keep momentum alive and ignite a late-season charge up the Championship table.
Bindon, just 20 years old and already a 21-cap All Whites international, is relishing his first real taste of the storied derby. “Everyone in the squad is really looking forward to it,” Bindon said ahead of the clash. “It’ll be awesome to play them at home in front of everyone. So hopefully we can get three points and send them on their way.”
It’s a fixture loaded with history and tension, but this time around, the teams find themselves at very different points in their respective journeys. Sheffield United currently sit 15th in the English Championship, hoping to string together a winning run that could put them in the mix for a late playoff push. Sheffield Wednesday, meanwhile, are mired at the very bottom—rock bottom, in fact—with -7 points after being slapped with an 18-point deduction for severe financial mismanagement and subsequent insolvency. The Owls are now a staggering 35 points adrift of their nearest rivals, Oxford United, and seem all but certain to face relegation to League One next season.
For Bindon, who joined United on loan from Premier League side Nottingham Forest until the end of the campaign, the journey hasn’t been without its bumps. He spent 11 consecutive matches out of the starting eleven before finally breaking into the lineup in December. Since then, he’s become a fixture in manager Chris Wilder’s plans. “I’m enjoying it, I think the fans have been great. Everyone around me has been very supportive in helping me come into the team,” Bindon explained. “I’m very grateful to all of them and the coaching staff behind the scenes who continue to work with me and help me grow as a person and a player.”
Bindon’s gratitude extends to his teammates as well. “I think it helps that everyone knows the place and is working hard together as a team to keep going. I think everyone’s on the same page and ready to put a shift in when needed.” That sense of unity will be crucial as United look to capitalize on their recent upturn in form, including a hard-fought 1-0 win away at Portsmouth last weekend. The reverse fixture against Wednesday last November saw United cruise to a 3-0 victory, though Bindon was an unused substitute that day—a fact he’s eager to put right on Monday.
While Bindon’s rise has been steady, the arrival of Kalvin Phillips has injected fresh energy and experience into the Blades’ midfield. Phillips, who was named England’s men’s Player of the Year in 2021, saw his career stall at Manchester City, where he made just a single seven-minute appearance this season in a Carabao Cup win over Huddersfield. But on Deadline Day, January 31, 2026, Phillips made a surprise switch to Sheffield United on loan, a move that raised eyebrows across English football.
In an exclusive interview, Phillips opened up about his decision and his ambitions for the rest of the season. “I want to play as many games as possible,” he said. “If I’d gone to a Premier League team, it might have taken longer to get into the team, and they have fewer games. I’d rather be put in the deep end than work my way in.”
Phillips’ debut for United came in the gritty win at Portsmouth, and he admits the physical adjustment was no joke. “In the first half, my lungs were gone. I was very stiff for the next three days.” Still, he’s embraced the challenge. “Chris (Wilder) has been really good with me, asking how I’m feeling and making sure that if there’s anything body-wise or uncomfortable, he’s there to ask the questions. I’ve really enjoyed it since I’ve been here.”
The move to Bramall Lane was partly orchestrated by an old friend—former Leeds teammate Patrick Bamford. “Funnily enough, it was early December when I was thinking about going out on loan. Pat texted me and said Chris is asking him to message me to see what I thought about coming here to play a few games. At first, I wasn’t sure, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought why not?” Phillips revealed. “I spoke to Pat and, to be honest, I barely spoke to Chris. I just made my mind up, spoke to my agent and said I’d rather go to Sheffield United than anywhere else. I’ve always admired the way Chris manages and the stories I’ve heard about him. It just felt like the perfect fit.”
Phillips, who turned 30 in December and still has two and a half years remaining on his contract at Manchester City, is determined to prove he’s still got plenty to offer. “I’m a person who works hard and never gives up on what I believe I can do,” he said. “I just need to play football to get back to my former self. Once I get up and firing, I’ll feel a lot better and a lot more confident.”
The midfielder is also candid about the challenges of life on the bench at City. “Any player in my situation would say not playing has been the major reason for a dip. So many players have stayed at clubs for so long without playing, and their careers have fizzled out. I didn’t want that to happen. I still feel like I’ve got life in me and a lot of football to play. I’m looking forward to the next three or four years.”
As for what lies ahead, Phillips is bullish about United’s prospects. “With the squad we’ve got, it’s 100 per cent achievable,” he said when asked about promotion. “We didn’t have the greatest start, but we’ve had a decent run recently. The win at the weekend was big because we didn’t necessarily play our best football, but we dug deep and got three points. We’ve got the Steel City derby this weekend, which will be tough and exciting, then Coventry and QPR. The Championship can go either way. If we focus on Sunday’s game, which is a massive one for us, and get the preparation right, that can set us up well.”
On the other side of the city, the mood couldn’t be more different. Sheffield Wednesday, already hampered by an 18-point deduction, have endured a torrid campaign. Last weekend, they finally found the net after 11 goalless matches, but their winless streak now stands at 26 games—their last victory coming all the way back in September 2025 against Portsmouth. The threat of relegation looms large, and with the Owls’ survival hopes hanging by a thread, the derby could be one of their last big moments in the Championship for some time.
With kick-off set for 12pm UK time at Bramall Lane, all eyes will be on whether Sheffield United can continue their resurgence and whether Phillips and Bindon can leave their mark on one of English football’s most passionate rivalries. The stakes are high, the atmosphere is sure to be feverish, and as the Steel City derby returns, both teams know there’s everything to play for.
As anticipation builds, United fans will be hoping that new faces and renewed spirit can drive their team to a statement win, while Wednesday supporters cling to the hope of a long-awaited turnaround. The city of Sheffield is set for another chapter in its footballing saga—one that promises drama, intensity, and, just maybe, a spark for a brighter future.