Sheffield United: An update on - and a revelation about - Jack O'Connell

The centre-half, who was being touted for England honours before sustaining a knee injury, has spent nearly two years on the sidelines after suffering a series of setbacks since undergoing surgery in September 2020.

Heckingbottom was asked if O’Connell was any closer to a recovery during a media briefing at United’s training complex, designed to coincide with the release of the new Championship fixture schedule.

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Although he again refused to predict when - or indeed if - O’Connell will return, Heckingbottom did reveal the former Brentford defender had been close to a comeback during his spell in caretaker charge the season before last.

“With Jack, it’s a tough place to be,” he said. “He’s handled himself the same way all the way through, which is brilliantly.

“In the Premier League, when I was in charge then, there were times when we actually had him training. He was upping his load and was desperate, really itching, to get a place on the bench. Then he had a set-back.

“It’s a tough place to be as I say, because if you are dropped as a player then you feel as if there’s something you can do about it. That isn’t the case, obviously, when you are injured. It’s different.”

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Now aged 28, O’Connell’s attacking prowess made him one of the most influential members of the United squad which reached the top-flight, going on to finish ninth in the table, under Heckingbottom’s predecessor Chris Wilder. His absence was cited as a major factor behind United’s relegation a season later, given the effect it had on the dynamics of their pioneering take on the 3-5-2 system.

Cautioning people against making judgements about whether or not O’Connell will eventually be forced to retire, Heckingbottom said: “As a professional athlete, you try as long as you can. And it’s wrong for anyone to be talking about it. It’s a personal thing. Jack will decide what happens. Not me or anyone else.”

"He’s getting the support he needs,” Heckingbottom continued, “From us and his friends and family.”

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