Chris Wilder addresses Gus Hamer availability concern as Sheffield United look to mount late play-off push
Chris Wilder addresses Gus Hamer availability concern as Sheffield United look to mount late play-off push
Gus Hamer is walking another disciplinary tightrope as Sheffield United look to avoid losing their talisman for two games at a key time in the season - but as a senior player, he will be trusted to handle the situation himself. The United No.8 has picked up nine bookings in the league so far this term.
Any player that reaches the 10-yellow threshold before their side’s 37th league game of the season will sit out two games, with United preparing for their 36th match of the campaign against West Brom tomorrow.
Hamer therefore has to avoid picking up a yellow against either West Brom or Norwich City next Wednesday or he will miss two games, at a time when he is getting back to his best and showing the sort of form that saw him named the Championship player of the year last term.
The Brazilian-born Dutchman lines up against the Baggies hoping to register at least another goal contribution, having picked up at least one assist in his last eight league starts for the Blades at Bramall Lane.
Chris Wilder addresses Gus Hamer availability concern as Sheffield United look to mount late play-off push
That is the longest run of any player in the Championship since Opta records began back in 2013/14, and only highlights Hamer’s importance to this United side as they look to mount a late-season dart for the top six.
But the suspension worry is lurking in the background. “He understands that,” said Wilder, when asked if he will speak to Hamer about the situation or trust him to plot his way through it. “I don't think sometimes they maybe know the situation that they're in.
“I think Gus has been through this situation before. I think Sydie Peck was in the situation this season as well, and he handled it brilliantly for a young player. Especially a combative, competitive character like Syd is. I think he had to come through about three or four games.
“They have to be disciplined. As I said, for me there's not a discipline problem. We talked about the sendings-off recently, and there are probably a couple that you can understand. We want to keep Gus on the pitch, we want to have him involved. But he has to be sensible and disciplined in his approach, as they all do.”