WANDERERS Academy graduate Chris Basham could reach a career milestone at the Macron tonight.

The 29-year-old is expected to make his 150th start for Sheffield United, seven years after leaving Bolton for Blackpool in a £1million deal.

Basham was discovered playing college football in his native Wearside and had worked in fast food outlet McDonald’s to pay his way through school.

He was loaned out to Stafford Rangers and Rochdale before Gary Megson gave him a brief debut in November 2008 against his boyhood club Sunderland and he scored a first goal for the club against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge almost a year later.

Basham played a total 21 games for the Whites before moving on to Blackpool and then to Sheffield United on a free transfer in 2014.

He has since become a mainstay of the side for Nigel Adkins, and then Chris Wilder – who reckons Basham typifies the spirit of his team.

“He’s a whole-hearted character and he gives 100 per cent every single time he steps out on the grass,” he told The Sheffield Star. “He’s great in the changing room, Monday to Friday, as well. He wants to win and he’s a decent player too. That goes under the radar with him because I thought he was superb last time out.”

Basham is likely to line-up in midfeld for the Blades tonight but has also been used in the back four.

And his versatility was one of the reasons Wilder was keen to sign him up to a new two-year contract in South Yorkshire.

“Chris is a selfless guy,” Wilder added. “If he has to do a different job for the team, no matter what it is, he’ll do it no questions asked. He’s been fabulous for us and that’s the reason why we signed him up. That’s what we want here, not just talented individuals but also good people as well. He’s a proper footballer and a proper bloke.”