Paul Heckingbottom's Sheffield United transfer wish as he identifies what must happen in summer

Paul Heckingbottom believes recruitment is key this summer as he looks to build on the strong finish to last season. The manager feels the club is well placed to compete for promotion once again if they can have a successful transfer window.

He was buoyed by the team's performance from November when he was appointed manager to succeed Slavisa Jokanovic. They lost just five matches as they climbed from 16th in the table to fifth and set-up a play-off semi-final with eventual winners Nottingham Forest.

He felt Sheffield United more than showed they were capable of going toe-to-toe with the top teams in the division and is hoping they can hit the ground running when the new campaign gets under way on July 30.

Having made a slow start to the last one due to a number of factors, one of which being a disrupted pre-season, Heckingbottom is keen to ensure his side don't suffer a repeat. A trip to Portugal for a warm-weather training camp was in the diary nice and early and a number of pre-season friendlies, which have been announced, have also been locked down.

Already the signs are there that this summer is looking like being much more beneficial to the players. CEO Stephen Bettis recently revealed that his request to improve training pitches at the club's Randox Health Academy has been met with approval at board level as Heckingbottom looks to avoid the injury crisis that almost derailed their promotion bid.

All that's left now to put United in the best possible place is a successful window and he believes that is the biggest area the club must get right this summer.

"Recruitment is key, we have a good group and a good few tied down. We have six or seven positions and that's why we have to start as soon as possible," he told