'Really dangerous' - Chris Wilder gives verdict on Femi Seriki's Sheffield United return after injury lay-off
Femi Seriki featured for the first time in two months as Sheffield United came from behind to draw 1-1 with Derby County on Saturday.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder was delighted to welcome Femi Seriki back into the fold after the right-back came off the bench in the second half of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Derby County at Bramall Lane.
Following a ten-game absence due to a knee injury, Seriki was introduced in the 57th minute against the Rams, replacing Hamza Choudhury, who had once again deputised at right-back.
With United trailing at the time of Seriki’s introduction, the former Bury man added a threat down the right flank thanks to his pace and attack-minded style of play.
Following referee Stephen Martin’s decision to send off Derby defender Dion Sanderson after showing him a second yellow card in the 66th minute, United equalised just over ten minutes later when Patrick Bamford bundled home Romelle Donovan’s excellent cross. The Blades continued to turn the screw in search of a second goal, with much of their attacking play involving Seriki driving towards the byline and attempting to deliver crosses into the box.
Insisting that United had got the most out of Seriki on his first appearance since August 25, Wilder was encouraged by his performance, admitting that having attacking full-backs on both sides is key to the way he wants his team to play.
“I’m always answering questions, and there's a reason,” Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield. “There's a reason behind everything.
“Femi had half an hour in him, and he gave us 35 minutes. So, yes, it suited Femi.
“Hamza's filled in there, and Matt Doherty has been injured and Jamie Shackleton has been injured. The skipper (Japhet Tanganga) has played there, but we play with attacking full-backs.
“On the left, we have H [Harrison Burrows] and Sam McCallum, who was outstanding last year. Harrison’s finding his form. So, keeping them on the pitch and getting Femi on the pitch was always in our minds when we were setting up the team during the week. But there was no way he could have played anything past 30 to 35 minutes.
“To get 30 to 35 minutes out of him and have him at the top of the pitch, where he’s really dangerous for us, was key and helped us pin them back.”