Sheffield United get double boost as Chris Wilder avoids nightmare suspension scenario
Chris Wilder will be able to call upon two of Sheffield United’s leading figures for the midweek clash with Norwich City at Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United duo Sydie Peck and Gustavo Hamer will be available for Tuesday night’s Championship clash against Norwich City at Bramall Lane after avoiding yellow cards in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Stoke City.
The duo went into the tussle with Mark Robins’ clash on four yellow cards apiece so far this season, meaning bookings against the Potters would have seen them issued with one-match bans for the midweek visit of the Canaries.
English Football League rules state that any player who amasses five yellow cards within their team’s opening 19 league matches of the campaign must serve a one-match suspension, meaning both Peck and Hamer were on the cusp of bans heading into the final game before the cut-off point.
With the victory over Stoke, which was United’s fourth on the spin, marking the Blades’ 19th league outing of the campaign, it means neither Peck or Hamer, nor any other members of Chris Wilder’s squad, are now in danger of encountering one-match bans for accumulating five yellow cards.
Hamer chalked up four yellow cards after just six games this season, meaning he had been walking a fine tightrope either side of his knee problem that ruled him out for six matches. The 28-year-old made his first start since recovering from his aforementioned injury against Stoke and marked the occasion by assisting Mark McGuinness for the game’s opening goal.
Blades duo avoid bans
Meanwhile, Peck, who scored for the third game running against Stoke, converting a second half penalty, had been flirting with the risk of a suspension since being booked for a fourth time this term in United’s 3-1 win over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on October 21.
Having successfully avoided having their names taken by referee Stephen Martin at Bramall Lane on Saturday, it means they will both be available for the clash with Norwich, offering a big boost to boss Wilder, who will almost certainly have to make changes to his starting XI to combat his side’s busy schedule.
After facing Norwich on Tuesday evening, the Blades will be back in action just 72 hours later, facing West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on Friday night.