Sheffield United: Joe Riley suffers injury blow

Sheffield United face an anxious wait before learning if Joe Riley, their on-loan defender, will play again this season.

Chris Wilder revealed this morning that the 20-year-old has returned to Manchester United for tests after dislocating a shoulder during training.

Although Riley has been ruled-out of Saturday’s meeting with third-placed Bolton Wanderers, Wilder, the League One leaders’ manager, remains hopeful he could possibly be available for selection next month.

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“We have took a bit of a blow, Joe Riley is out for the weekend,” Wilder admitted during United’s pre-match media conference. “It was a bit of a freak accident in training. He stumbled, tried to keep his balance, and dislocated his shoulder. We are waiting on the results of a scan, he has gone back to Manchester United. Those results will determine whether he is back with us, or that’s his season done.”

Riley impressed on his full debut for United against Bristol Rovers earlier this month and, Wilder admitted, had been close to starting the meeting with Phil Parkinson’s side.

“It’s disappointing for Joe, desperately bad luck, it was something out of nothing in training,” he continued. “He was just getting himself going, played at Bristol Rovers and could be very pleased with his debut.

“It’s not looking good for him short-term, but hopefully we will get some good news for the rest of the season. He was pushing Kieron (Freeman) and Danny Lafferty, he was close, so we are disappointed.

“We have been told worst case scenario, he’s out for the season. Best case, he might be back in two weeks.”