Sheffield United went into the international break with three injury absentees they hoped to have back for Lincoln City’s visit to Bramall Lane on Saturday.
Femi Seriki, Harrison Burrows and Imps’ title winner Ryan One had all been missing, leaving Chris Wilder looking to the pause in Championship football to help strengthen his options.
The Blades signed off with a 2-1 defeat at Stoke City, leaving them 18th after their opening eight fixtures. They were four points outside the play-off places and four above the relegation zone, with their inconsistent start adding significance to the first game back against us.
Reporting during the break, The Star indicated that United were hopeful of having all three players available for our visit. That was the recovery target, although it remained a case of possible returns rather than confirmation that any of the trio would be ready to start.
Seriki and Burrows are the two defensive names to watch, offering options on the right and left respectively. Seriki operates at right-back or wing-back, while Burrows fills the equivalent roles on the opposite flank, meaning their potential availability could affect both sides of United’s defence.
From our perspective, getting both back would give Wilder more scope to change his approach out wide. Seriki likes to get forward down the right, while Burrows would restore another established option on the left, making their fitness relevant to how we prepare for the game.
One was the other player United hoped would benefit from the break, with the forward working towards a return after his own injury absence. We know all about his pace and physical presence; he would give Wilder another attacking option, whether from the start or as a way of changing the game from the bench.
Tahith Chong was already further along in his comeback, having played the final ten minutes at Stoke after injury restricted him to three appearances this season. He subsequently added 33 minutes for Curacao against Costa Rica, scoring in their 4-3 victory, before playing the second half of a 6-1 win over Nicaragua. Those outings gave him valuable time on the pitch as he worked towards full fitness.
The break offered the Blades an opportunity to recover players as well as reset after the defeat at Stoke. We’ll now be keeping an eye on Seriki, Burrows and One, with their progress potentially giving Wilder a broader squad to choose from when Championship football resumes this weekend.
Comments Welcome!