The interesting proposal by Sheffield United's owner that Chris Wilder will ignore for the time being

An avid followers of American football, and in particular the San Francisco 49’ers, Sheffield United’s owner highlighted one of the distinctions between how teams across the Atlantic operate during the build up to matches compared to their counterparts in Great Britain.

“A team announcing all injuries should be mandatory,” he said. “The same as the NFL do.

“If you don’t disclose your injuries days before the game, you are fined. The same as if you are found to be lying later.”

Forcing Premier League managers to publish their casualty lists ahead of matches is an interesting idea which, despite being bound to grate with those who oppose the increasing Americanisation of our national sport, is not without its merits. But, in the absence of a diktat from the competition’s legislators, it is not one Chris Wilder plans to embrace any time soon. Indeed, as his team clings on to top-flight status by its fingertips, the United manager makes no apology for using every weapon in his armoury to try and keep that sort of detailed information underwraps.

“I’m sure you’ll understand, I’m not going to go into that too much,” Wilder said, when asked for an update on United’s fitness issues ahead of last weekend’s game against Southampton. “But Jayden Bogle is out, Chris Basham is out and so are lots of others; including, of course, Sander Berge, John Egan and Jack O’Connell.”

Despite apparently being ruled-out of the contest, and given no chance of recovering from injury before Sunday’s trip to Leicester City, Bogle did appear in the starting eleven for the meeting with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side; completing all 96 minutes of United’s 2-0 defeat by the visitors from St Mary’s. Whether or not Basham, who was also thought to be in with a chance of featuring at the KP Stadium, is close to a return remains to be seen.

But Wilder will make no apology for trying to keep Brendan Rodgers guessing, as he presses ahead with the seemingly impossible mission of trying to guide United out of the relegation zone.

“I don’t want to give anyone a heads up or any help,” said Wilder, with United 12 points adrift of safety. “I think people will appreciate why.”

Rodgers is expected to pursue a similar agenda during the build-up to this weekend’s fixture, as City chase Champions League qualification.

Defender Jonny Evans and forward Ayoze Perez could both feature against United, after missing two and six games respectively. With United sitting at the bottom of the division and City in third, Rodgers could feel confident enough to provide in-depth information on their progress. But, if he feels it will put Wilder at a serious disadvantage, the Northern Irishman will obfuscate and attempt to cloud the issue.

“We’re hopeful on Jonny,” he told reporters. “Ayo, at some point we’re hoping, can rejoin (training) next week.”

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