Why Ryan Oné was missing for Sheffield United in pre-season friendly vs Chesterfield
Sheffield United youngster Ryan Oné played no part in the draw with Chesterfield - but there is no need for panic.
Sheffield United assistant manager Micky Collins has confirmed striker Ryan Oné missed Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Chesterfield at the SMH Group Stadium with an unspecified ‘minor issue’.
Oné, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Lincoln City, was a notable absentee from the teamsheet as United stepped up their pre-season preparations with another solid run-out in sweltering conditions in Derbyshire.
The youngster, who celebrated his 20th birthday last month, was involved in last weekend’s 3-1 win over FC Halifax Town at The Shay, completing the first 45 minutes, meaning his absence against Paul Cook’s side did raise some eyebrows and generate some slight concerns.
However, assistant boss Collins, who conducted United’s post-match media duties instead of manager Chris Wilder, played down any fears of a serious injury, confirming the Scotland youth international was protected ahead of the upcoming trip to Spain for a week-long training camp.
Addressing Oné’s absence, Collins told BBC Radio Sheffield: “Just a minor issue. It was something that we didn’t want to risk. I think we are quite fortunate at the moment where we don’t want to take chances on players.
“We have got a week away in Valencia next week, which is massive for us, and we wanted as many healthy bodies going out there. As much as we want to push the lads, and we have to because we want that extra 10-15 per cent that I mentioned, you have got to be a little bit calculated with it at times.
“Ryan will be fine and he will back with us very shortly.”
United are two weeks and two games into their pre-season preparations, and the upcoming trip to Valencia, which will feature a friendly against Levante UD, will offer Wilder and his coaching staff the chance to push the players even further ahead of the campaign getting underway next month. The trip to Spain will, of course, see the Blades train in high temperatures - but that is something they have recently had to get used to amid the heatwave the UK is currently experiencing.
“We are happy with the first two weeks,” Collins continued. “We have worked the lads very hard.
“Obviously, in the conditions at the moment, with the heat, it has actually been a bonus because it means they have had to push themselves in extreme conditions at times. That is something, when we did a bit of a deep dive at the end of last season into the areas that we want to improve in, naturally, that’s one of them.
“If we can bump the squad by a 10, 15, 20 per cent from a fitness point of view, everybody benefits. All in all, on the first two weeks, we are relatively happy with how it’s gone.”