“Definitely” - Sheffield United get huge Gus Hamer fitness boost for Sheffield Wednesday derby clash as pair near returns
“Definitely” - Sheffield United get huge Gus Hamer fitness boost for Sheffield Wednesday derby clash as pair near returns
Gustavo Hamer will “definitely” make his Sheffield United return in time for the Steel City derby clash with rivals Wednesday later this month, manager Chris Wilder has confirmed, with a potential triple injury boost for the Blades in the offing after the international break. Hamer has been out since he damaged knee ligaments in the last international break.
United have picked up six points from the 15 available since he was ruled out and his return would be a great boost for the Blades as they look to get themselves out of the slump that has seen them lose their last three ahead of tomorrow’s home clash with Queens Park Rangers.
Hamer will not be back in time for that one but is in line to give United a huge boost for the derby, which is the first game back for both sides after the international break. Oliver Arblaster will also be in contention for that one, a year after damaging an anterior cruciate ligament against the Owls, while Tahith Chong may not return in time for the trip to Hillsborough.
“I’m delighted to see Ollie back training in the manner that he's training,” Wilder said. “I think everybody's given everybody a huge boost. Gus will be back in training on Monday and we think with Chongi, it might be a week later.
“So it'll be touch and go for him with the Sheffield Wednesday game. Olllie will obviously want to play in that Sheffield Wednesday game. Gus wanted to play in the Coventry game and will definitely be ready for the Sheffield Wednesday game.
“Definitely” - Sheffield United get huge Gus Hamer fitness boost for Sheffield Wednesday derby clash as pair near returns
“They’re big players to come back for us; big players that can have an effect on the team and we’re delighted at the progression that they're showing.”
Wilder tweaked United’s formation slightly for Tuesday’s defeat at Coventry, fielding two strikers in Tom Cannon and Tyrese Campbell, and the Blades’ first-half showing was much improved against the league leaders before two avoidable second-half goals changed the complexion of the game.
Asked if that may be something he perseveres with in the coming weeks, Wilder said: “For every challenge, every team that we play against, we do our analysis on them in terms of how we can find better ways to win games of football.
“And this is not a deflection of any sort whatsoever. I think you understand where I am at with it, and I've talked about it at length. Tactically, nobody's opening us up. Coventry didn't open us up on Tuesday night, tactically. They scored two goals from set plays.
“So over those last three games where we've lost all three games, nobody's done anything spectacular on us tactically or dominated us tactically. We're always looking for tweaks, as everybody else is looking for tweaks on us.
“And maybe people will look at us now and think that our Achilles’ heel is a long throw or a set play, and we have to get over that and deal with it. But the process of the game, the numbers that we always talk about statistically, are improving.
“But as I've said all along, ultimately, the biggest target is for us to win games of football. I don't think we're a million miles off ... I really don't.”