Sheffield United injury picture brightens further as Chris Wilder outlines careful reintegration plan for returning key man
Sheffield United injury picture brightens further as Chris Wilder outlines careful reintegration plan for returning key man
Sydie Peck’s return to the Sheffield United squad is another huge boost for the Blades ahead of this weekend’s trip to Charlton Athletic, even if the young midfielder is unlikely to be named in the starting XI at The Valley. United have been without the 21-year-old since early December, when he picked up a calf injury.
And despite his tender years and relative lack of experience he has been a big miss in the centre of midfield, both in terms of his ability and his attitude and character. United have struggled in the centre of the park in terms of availability, with fellow academy product Oliver Arblaster still getting up to speed after a 13-month injury absence.
Tom Davies has also been in the treatment room, leaving United relying on the inconsistent Djibril Soumare in midfield. But they are slowly getting stronger in that department and hope to bolster it further in the current transfer window.
“I’m delighted to have him back, and that he’s back in and amongst it,” Wilder said. “I’ve said a lot about the young guy. It was a big blow, missing him and Ben Mee in that period. But we've managed to come through it, and our current form is really good.
“We're a different side to the one that faced Charlton in our first game [back, after Ruben Selles’ sacking]. The last 10 games, if you look from a data point of view, we've been pretty good. We need to keep that consistency.
“Listen, cards on the table, is Sydie going to start? No. Is he going to go and play 95, 96 minutes after being out for eight or nine weeks? No. So there are still players that we're trying to ease back in, minutes-wise. Like Tom Davies, Sydie, Chieo [Ogbene]. Other players like that. But the others are good as gold, and they're ready to rock and roll.”
Sheffield United injury picture brightens as Chris Wilder outlines careful reintegration plan for returning key man
Republic of Ireland international Ogbene has not appeared for United since the goalless draw with QPR in early November, after damaging a hamstring on international duty later that month. But he returned to training recently and is back available for selection, giving Wilder another option on the wing alongside Andre Brooks and Tahith Chong.
Wilder will revert to a full-strength side at The Valley, after some fitness issues forced him to make 10 changes for Sunday’s FA Cup defeat at home to Mansfield. “I know people sometimes think that I'm trying to spin things a little bit in press conferences, to keep people guessing,” he admitted.
“But there were genuine issues, and players had to come out of the team to rest and recover and get themselves right. Well, they've done that and they're right. We've got Cheio back as well and he'll be involved in the squad.
“So that's another good bit of news. Our injury record at the moment is pretty good, the availability for players is pretty good. And we've got pretty much a full hit to go down the road to Charlton.”