Chris Wilder gives injury update on Sheffield United ace Sam McCallum
Sam McCallum was absent for Sheffield United’s Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town on Wednesday evening.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has revealed that defender Sam McCallum has undergone a heart scan after taking an “unbelievable whack” in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
McCallum, who turned 26 earlier this month, was, as expected, absent from the matchday squad on Wednesday evening as the Blades were beaten 1-0 by Fleetwood Town in the third round of the Carabao Cup at Highbury Stadium.
His absence meant Rhys Norrington-Davies filled in at left-back, and the Wales international headed the ball into his own net 12 minutes into the second half, sealing Fleetwood’s place in the fourth round and setting up a glamour tie with Arsenal at Highbury Stadium next month.
McCallum, who was one of United’s most improved players last season before suffering an ankle injury in January that ruled him out for the remainder of the season, was described as a “major doubt” by Wilder ahead of the trip to the Fylde Coast when the Blades chief conducted his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
McCallum was forced off in the latter stages of the defeat to Wolves at the weekend after soldiering through the second half following lengthy treatment at half-time to enable him to continue. He was poleaxed by a Wolves player as he jumped for a high ball.
“I said in the press that he got absolutely wiped out,” said Wilder, issuing an update after the defeat at Fleetwood. “He went for a scan on his heart and, basically, he’s taken a dead leg to his chest and his heart from that challenge on Sunday afternoon.”
Meanwhile, Wilder also confirmed that on-loan Coventry City defender Liam Kitching missed the clash with Fleetwood following a knock to his knee and that he wanted to “protect him”.