Sheffield United: 'I will come back from knee injury stronger' vows Blades defender Kieron Freeman

The right-back suffered the injury against Ipswich at Bramall Lane last weekend, in a collision with teammate Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Despite initial fears Freeman might miss the rest of the Championship season, subsequent tests suggest he might be able to return around Christmas - welcome news for both club and player, especially after a similar injury to teammate Paul Coutts kept him out for 11 months when he and Freeman were at Derby.

"It's not nice and it was painful, but it could have been worse, apparently, much worse," Freeman said in United's matchday programme for yesterday's victory over Reading.

"I remember Couttsy doing something similar but much more serious when we were together at Derby and I know how long he was out for, so I have to remain upbeat. It was frustrating to miss three games with the rib injury, so to be looking at another enforced spell out is annoying, but there isn't much I can do, only come back stronger.

"At the time, everyone, including myself and the physios, feared it was going to be much worse, so although the swelling hasn't completely gone down as yet, the prognosis now is more favourable."