Chris Wilder hails crucial return of Jack O'Connell as Sheffield United fight for European place

Jack O’Connell’s return from injury will provide Sheffield United with a major boost as they attempt to close the gap between themselves and the Premier League’s top six teams, manager Chris Wilder has admitted, after the centre-half’s appearance against Burnley dispelled fears he was set to miss the rest of the season.
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Having missed United’s last five matches following an accidental collision during training, O’Connell was introduced during the closing stages of the 1-1 draw at Turf Moor; which left the visitors eighth in the table ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Although Wilder has praised the performances of Jack Robinson in recent weeks - the former Nottingham Forest defender stepped into the breach when O’Connell was declared unavailable for selection - he told The Star: “You want all your players available and they're all big players, especially one that's played in that system for the amount of games he has done with the success he has done.

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“In any Premier League club, if you take two or three of the main actors out, and if you ask supporters or anybody, Jack's up there as one of our main players over the last two or three years so to lose him for this period has been disappointing.

Burnley's Matej Vydra (bottom) and Sheffield United's Jack O'Connell battle for the ball during the Premier League match at Turf Moor, Burnley.  Jon Super/NMC Pool/PA Wire.Burnley's Matej Vydra (bottom) and Sheffield United's Jack O'Connell battle for the ball during the Premier League match at Turf Moor, Burnley.  Jon Super/NMC Pool/PA Wire.
Burnley's Matej Vydra (bottom) and Sheffield United's Jack O'Connell battle for the ball during the Premier League match at Turf Moor, Burnley. Jon Super/NMC Pool/PA Wire.

“That's no blame on anybody else who's come into the team but to have him get through half an hour in the manner he did was pleasing and gives us a little bit more strength.”

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With Wolves preparing for their trip to Bramall Lane in sixth, Wilder was asked if he is tempted to include O’Connell in his starting eleven against the visitors’ from Molineux.

Revealing he had elected not to call upon O’Connell’s services when Tottenham Hotspur were beaten 3-1 in South Yorkshire four days earlier - despite seeing the centre-half make significant progress in his battle for fitness, Wilder replied: “It would have been a gamble to involve him against Tottenham. The last three days have allowed us to clear Jack to be available to play a part. We were looking at half an hour maximum. He might have played just over it but he will pick speed pretty quickly, he's good at that.”

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United finished the contest in eighth when John Egan cancelled-out James Tarkowski’s opener for Burnley.

“Jack Robinson has been great for us,” Wilder said. “That has caught up with him a little bit, the amount of games he's had to play because he has not had to play many games since January and then he is thrust into Premier League action on a Wednesday and a Saturday or whatever the schedule is. That's a tough one for the best of boys.”

United have no new injury concerns as they get ready to take on Wolves on Wednesday night in a crucial encounter in the race for a European place. John Fleck, John Lundstram and Luke Freeman are all still unlikely to be available.

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