Sheffield United face another blow to their Premier League survival hopes

It is typical of the misfortune Sheffield United have suffered with injuries this season that, less than 48 hours after being identified as a pivotal figure in their manager’s masterplan for Premier League survival, Oli McBurnie became the latest senior player forced to book himself a time slot on the club’s treatment table.
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Another game, this time against a resurgent Southampton side. Another defeat and yet another fitness issue resulting, not from poor preparation or ill-advised routines on the training ground, but the type of awkward fall or accidental collision which are ten a penny during every Premier League fixture. Lady Luck, it is fair to say, seems to have it in for United right now. Particularly, after showing perseverance and patience during one of the most difficult periods of his career, McBurnie had just experienced one of those breakthrough moments which can transform a professional footballer’s career. Or, at the very least, enable them to escape the type of suffocating pressure which builds-up during a long, dispiriting run.

Nine days after scoring his first goal of the present campaign and two since damaging a shoulder at St Mary’s, McBurnie is now a serious doubt for Thursday’s match at Bramall Lane which pits United, still without a win this term following that 3-0 reverse in Hampshire, against their namesakes from Manchester. Despite his less than scintillating finishing of late, losing the centre-forward would be another frustrating blow for manager Chris Wilder who, before meeting with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, had cited his conduct over the past few weeks as an example for others within United’s squad to follow as they attempt to claw themselves off the bottom of the table and towards safety.

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“Oli has come under the spotlight,” Wilder said, when asked if the United and Scotland centre-forward’s strike against Leicester City earlier this month had been a reward for the effort he has demonstrated over the past few months. “When he goes away with his country, he always is because there’s a big pressure on all of us; especially those lads at the top end of the pitch.

Oli McBurnie receives treatment on the pitch at Southampton: David Klein/SportimageOli McBurnie receives treatment on the pitch at Southampton: David Klein/Sportimage
Oli McBurnie receives treatment on the pitch at Southampton: David Klein/Sportimage

“We know we should be scoring more and putting more points on the board than we have been. All of them will recognise that we’ve not taken enough of the chances we have created. But he brings so much to the team, for us to create those performances we should have made more of in the first place.

“It was a ‘proper’ performance from him (against City). He was up against some really top drawer players and he was a handful, a real handful, because he keeps putting it all in.

“He’ll be disappointed with the total he’s got because he should have got more. But I believe in him, as I believe in all of the lads within the group here.”

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McBurnie was examined by medical staff at the Steelphalt Academy on Sunday night, when United’s first team coach completed its 200 mile journey back to South Yorkshire. The results of those tests, which were being studied by members of the conditioning department this morning, are set to have huge bearing on Wilder’s selections for the meeting with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men and, given the changes he made following McBurnie’s exit early in the second-half of the contest with Southampton, possibly their shape too. United switched from a 5-3-2 to a 4-4-2 soon after he was withdrawn, with Lys Mousset and Rhian Brewster positioned just in front of fellow substitute David McGoldrick. After Wilder had used his most recent pre-match media conference to question the wisdom of those who claim a strategy which has proven so effective over the past four seasons should now be consigned to the dustbin of history, that was as much an indication of the stress injuries have placed on a squad already shallow by PL standards as it was a riposte to those who portray him as being tactically inflexible. Likewise, as John Fleck is nursed back to full fitness following a back complaint, John Lundstram’s continued presence in Wilder’s matchday plans despite his refusal to agree a new contract. It remains to be seen if a replacement is sourced during the forthcoming transfer window, where United are set to target loans rather than permanent deals.

David McGoldrick comes on for Sheffield United, when Oli McBurnie was unable to continue against Southampton: David Klein/SportimageDavid McGoldrick comes on for Sheffield United, when Oli McBurnie was unable to continue against Southampton: David Klein/Sportimage
David McGoldrick comes on for Sheffield United, when Oli McBurnie was unable to continue against Southampton: David Klein/Sportimage

“We’ll see how Oli is, it’s too early to say at the moment,” Wilder acknowledged, before leaving Southampton. “But to my eye, and the experience I’ve had in football with this type of thing, I’d say he is going to be touch and go (for Manchester United).”

More than the result itself - embarking upon their ninth season at the highest level, Hasenhuttl’s employers are able to hire the likes of Danny Ings, Oriol Romeu and Theo Walcott - United’s performance - passive and, barring an encouraging spell early in the second-period, relatively compliant was symptomatic of a group whose self-belief is at a low ebb. Even Stevens and Ampadu, making their returns to action following leg and hip complaints problems respectively, lacked their usual conviction with the latter failing to challenge Jan Bednarek before the Pole created Southampton’s opening goal. It is for that reason why losing McBurnie for a game where they know, thanks to the opposition’s profile, the eyes of the world will be on them would be such a blow to United’s hopes of stunning the former European champions. After opening his account against City, the 24-year-old is likely to be one of the few players at Wilder’s disposal whose confidence has received a boost of late. Even if, as his demeanor after watching Jamie Vardy’s 90th minute effort deny United what would have been a credible draw, suggested otherwise.

“You’ve got to scrap your way out of it, it’s tough, being a professional footballer. It’s a privileged position and the sun isn’t shining,” Wilder said. “He (McBurnie) is fighting and battling his way out of it, as we all should be.”

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