Sheffield United’s worst fears over Sam McCallum as serious injury blow v Millwall alters Blades’ late transfer plans
Sheffield United’s worst fears over Sam McCallum as serious injury blow v Millwall alters Blades’ late transfer plans
Sheffield United may be forced to reassess their plans ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline after Sam McCallum suffered a serious injury that boss Chris Wilder admits may be season-ending. The left-back was stretchered off in the first half of an entertaining 1-1 draw at The Den.
Wilder revealed afterwards that the former Norwich City man may have broken his ankle or damaged ligaments in the incident, which saw him receive lengthy treatment on the pitch before being carried off.
He will now be sent for a scan but the early signs, including gas and air pain relief being administered on the field, did not look good as to his short-term availability for the Blades. “He was in real pain, you could see it in his face as he came off,” Wilder said.
“He’s a tough boy but he was getting carried off on a stretcher and getting pain relief. So he’ll go for a scan. The fear is that it's going to be season ending. That's the fear from everybody there but from a medical point of view, we're going to have to get the scan results and go from there.”
Sheffield United’s worst fears over Sam McCallum as serious injury blow v Millwall alters Blades’ late transfer plans
McCallum’s blow leaves Harrison Burrows as the only senior left-back on the Blades’ books at present, with a reported impending deal for Chelsea youngster Harry McGlinchey seen as one for the club’s academy rather than first-team challenge.
The Blades do have Rhys Norrington-Davies out on loan at QPR but is unclear at present whether he can be recalled, or whether any deadline to do so has already passed - as was the case with Tyler Bindon and Nottingham Forest.
Asked if the issue may affect his plans ahead of Monday’s 7pm deadline, Wilder admitted: “Yeah, it might do. Because we can't be left with just one left back in the building with Harrison. So yeah, it might affect our approach over the next 48 hours leading up to the end of the window.”
United were then hit with another fitness blow early in the second half when Tom Davies made way. The former Everton man was starting consecutive games for the first time this season after a spate of fitness issues that have plagued his Bramall Lane career this far.
“Yeah, his hamstring tightened up,” Wilder said. “So he's going to have to go for a scan which is, yet again, incredibly disappointing. Because at times he showed the ability he's got and the contribution he makes to us.”
United host Oxford United on Tuesday evening at Bramall Lane, and hope to have at least one new face in their squad before that point. “We've got to do business, we've got to work hard,” Wilder admitted.
“As we talked about, we missed out on a couple but working tirelessly to bolster and improve the group. And hopefully come Monday at seven o'clock, we'll have done those things that we need to set us up for the second part of the season.”