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Fixture pile-up means Blades have to get it right on the pitch
TONI Kallio admits that Sheffield United's efforts to repair their leaking defence are being hampered by the Championship's congested fixture schedule.
Kevin Blackwell's side face their fifth match in just 15 days when they meet Preston North End this evening with concerns about the crippling injury crisiswhich has robbed them of several key players overshadowing preparations for the journey to Deepdale.
Kallio, signed on loan from Fulham to alleviate Blackwell's selection problems, started his second spell at Bramall Lane by deputising for captain Chris Morgan at centre-half against Derby County on Saturday.
The Finn, who had initially been pencilled-in at left-back, said: "Understanding is a big part of being a defender.
"Every good defence needs to have one.
"The more you play with someone the more you get to trust them.
"You know what they're good at, you know what type of runs they are likely to make and what type of balls they would rather leave or go for.
"We will only get that trust together over time but, unfortunately, time isn't something you get a lot of in football.
"Because there is very little time between games at the moment we are limited in the amount of work we can do.
"So it means we are going to have to do it out there on the pitch which obviously isn't the best thing but I'm certain we can do it."
Having made two appearances for United during a brief spell in South Yorkshire before Christmas, Kallio is "delighted" to return.
"Things have changed a lot," he said. "There are a lot of players who were okay when I was first here who aren't now and some aren't at the club at all anymore.
"But I'm really happy to be back because I enjoyed myself a lot when I was last here.
"The fact that I already know the place should help me to settle in even more quickly and it is a really good club."
Having built their success in recent seasons upon defensive solidity, United conceded their seventh goal in just three outings when they were held 1-1 by Derby at the weekend.
"It was difficult at first because I've not played as a centre-half for quite a while," Kallio said.
"I used to be one when I was playing in Switzerland and, because the two positions are quite different, it took a bit of adjusting too.
"But I thought things went a lot better during the second half and hopefully that will continue."
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Weather for Sheffield
Friday 10 February 2012
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