Sheffield United "hopeful" defender's season isn't over after ill-timed injury blow

The 26-year-old was sent off on his full Blades debut against Blackburn Rovers, missing three games as a result.

And when his suspension was up, Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom revealed that the Brentford man had suffered a cartilage issue in training and returned to his parent club for treatment.

With Chris Basham and Ben Davies also sidelined with injury, Goode’s issue came at a terrible time for the Blades as they look to somehow cement their place in the play-offs despite a remarkable fitness crisis which saw 11 senior outfield players miss the midweek draw at Blackpool.

United return to action tomorrow afternoon in the early kick-off derby against Barnsley at Bramall Lane.

And Jack Lester, United’s head of player development, said of Goode: “He’s back at Brentford.

“He’s had an injection and we’re waiting to see if it settles down. So he’s not with us.

“We’re hoping not [that he won’t miss the season]. We’re waiting to see how the last procedure went and we’ll see in a couple of weeks if it settles down.”

There was at last some good news on the injury front as John Fleck, who missed out against two of his old clubs Coventry City and Blackpool with a groin issue, returned to training.

“He’s on the grass and we’ll see how he is today,” Lester said.

“That’s looking a bit more positive. So we’ll see.”

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