Sheffield United dealt latest fitness concern over goal hero v Stoke City as Ben Mee absence clarified
Sheffield United dealt latest fitness concern over goal hero v Stoke City as Ben Mee absence clarified
Defender Mark McGuinness had an eventful time of it on his recall to the Sheffield United starting line-up against Stoke City this afternoon. The former Luton Town man was the fall guy who lost his place when the Blades switched from a back three to a four recently.
He has had to bide his time on the bench but came back into the side today in the absence of Ben Mee, the 36-year-old former Burnley and Brentford man who has played almost every minute for the Blades since he came into the side earlier this term.
But he was missing from the teamsheet against Stoke with a hand injury, which has forced him to undergo a minor operation to correct. He was spotted wearing a support cast on the hand recently.
McGuinness replaced him from the bench and wasted no time impressing as he rose unopposed to nod the Blades in front from Gus Hamer’s corner. It was one of four times that Hamer picked out the big man from corners and Stoke didn’t heed their lesson, with McGuinness on another day potentially adding to his tally.
But he also didn’t make it past half-time, after feeling the after-effects of a first-half tangle with Stoke striker Divin Mubama. McGuinness had lengthy treatment on the field and initially returned after a period on the sidelines, but he was replaced at the break by Tyler Bindon.
With Ben Godfrey still unavailable for first-team selection amid a personal issue that is restricting him to U21 football, United’s options at the back suddenly seem a little depleted and United will hope that McGuinness is not missing for any serious length of time ahead of a busy Christmas period.