Sheffield United’s hopes of automatic promotion are hanging by a thread as they prepare to face Cardiff City at Bramall Lane on Good Friday. Chris Wilder’s side have lost three straight games to go from top of the Championship to five points adrift of the top-two with just four games remaining.
United were boosted by the return of Harry Clarke last weekend while Vini Souza continued to build fitness, but one Blade expected back was absent from the matchday squad. Cardiff’s 1-0 defeat against fellow strugglers Stoke has left them in the relegation zone and they make the journey north without a number of key players.
With all that in mind and ahead of a game that appears to be a must-win for United, The Star has rounded up the latest injury and team news from both sides.
5. Andy Rinomhota - doubt
Missed last weekend's visit of Stoke due to injury. Unclear whether he'll be fit and available this weekend. | Getty Images
6. Oliver Arblaster - out
A brilliant start to the season was cruelly halted when Arblaster suffered an ACL injury during November's Steel City derby win at Sheffield Wednesday. The midfielder will not feature again this season. | Sportimage
7. Oliver Arblaster - out (continued)
Wilder said of Arblaster last month: "It'll be next season, he's got some hurdles to get over, he's worked extremely hard and been diligent with his work. He's chomping at the bit as you can imagine, but he's still got a third of the work to go through. He's in a good place, and he's out on the grass and working but still that's a medium-to-long term injury. He'll be looking to come back into pre-season, whether it is the first day of pre-season he's back in with the first team, we'll work on that. He has a long summer ahead of him, a lot of work to put in to get himself right for the commencement of the new season." | Mike Egerton Photo: Mike Egerton
8. Rhys Norrington-Davies - out
Struggled for fitness all season and suffered a calf injury while playing for the U21s earlier this year. Surgery was required and the defender was ruled out for the season. Photo: Catherine Ivill