Sheffield United: '˜We have the best midfield partnership in League One' says Blades assistant Alan Knill

Sheffield United have the best centre-midfield partnership in League One - and John Fleck and Paul Coutts will only get better as the season goes on.
John Fleck of Sheffield Utd. Pic Simon Bellis/SportimageJohn Fleck of Sheffield Utd. Pic Simon Bellis/Sportimage
John Fleck of Sheffield Utd. Pic Simon Bellis/Sportimage

Blades assistant manager Alan Knill made the claim after Sunday’s FA Cup defeat at Bolton, where Coutts led out the visitors and scored his second for the club in their 3-2 second-round defeat.

Coutts was placed on the transfer list at the start of the season before winning back his place, and is now an instrumental part of Chris Wilder’s side.

Paul Coutts of Sheffield Utd. Pic Simon Bellis/SportimagePaul Coutts of Sheffield Utd. Pic Simon Bellis/Sportimage
Paul Coutts of Sheffield Utd. Pic Simon Bellis/Sportimage
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Fleck has also found his feet after a slightly sluggish start to his career in South Yorkshire, and Knill said: “They have been strong since they have started playing together, and will only get better throughout the season.

“I’d go as far as to say they are probably the best midfield two in the division, and they were good against Bolton.

“But it’s the team that wins and the team that loses.

“We’re all disappointed to be out of the FA Cup and we’ve got to put it right.”

Paul Coutts of Sheffield Utd. Pic Simon Bellis/SportimagePaul Coutts of Sheffield Utd. Pic Simon Bellis/Sportimage
Paul Coutts of Sheffield Utd. Pic Simon Bellis/Sportimage

United, who suffered a blow on the eve of the Bolton game when Harry Chapman suffered a freak training ground injury which could keep him out until the new year, get that chance on Saturday when they face Swindon at Bramall Lane.

“Swindon is a big game for us,” Knill added.

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“We’re not too far off, but we’re a mile off if we don’t convert our chances at one end and and keep them out at the other. But we don’t want to keep saying the same things.

“Like I say, though, I really don’t think we’re a million miles off. If anyone watched us at Bolton, they’ll have seen that we’re a good side.”