United captain Jason Pearce believes the team is still very much a “work in progress” following a mixed start to the Championship campaign.

Pearce’s side occupy 18th in the table and are without a win in their last six, but impressive victories against the likes of Bournemouth and Huddersfield last month have offered glimmers of hope.

While the team around him has often changed, Pearce has been ever-present at the heart of United’s defence so far this season but admits patience will be needed before they become the finished article.

"It’s still a work in progress with the team I think," said the centre-back. "There’s been a few changes in the team.

"Everytime the team’s picked, everyone is going out there and giving their all. We’re trying to stick together and do our best.

"From a personal point of view, you always go out to do your best and if you play well you expect to keep your place in the team.

"I’ve always tried to just do my best. The team’s changing around me but I’ve been lucky enough to play quite a lot of the games in the last few years."

Pearce has played 11 of his 16 games alongside Italian defender Giuseppe Bellusci, while another summer signing, Liam Cooper, has featured six times and is pushing for a place.

"It’s been hard at times with different personnel," said Pearce. "It’s nice to try and get a centre-half pairing so you get to know each other but as a player you just get on with it and do your best.

"At the moment, I’m playing and I’ll carry on doing that.

Asked if he sees similarities between his and Bellusci’s style of play, Pearce admitted: "I think we’re quite different to be fair.

"The more you play with someone, the more you get an understanding of what they’re going to do and what they’re not going to do.

"It’s only going to improve the longer we play together so we’ll see what happens.

"We’ve got young Coops who we’ve brought in who’s a very good player as well and is pushing me.

"It keeps me on my toes and I’ll just have to try and keep playing well.

"Sometimes I don’t know what Bellusci’s going to do but he’s come up with a couple of important goals and he does go on his runs and create things.

"People have to fill in for him and he’s very good on the ball. Hopefully we’ll keep on improving."