Two ruled out and three back in contention for Sheffield United as challenging home season signs off v Preston North End

Sheffield United remain hopeful of seeing loanees Tyler Bindon and Kalvin Phillips in a Blades shirt in the final two games of the season, before thoughts can completely turn towards their huge summer rebuild. Both have been ruled out of tomorrow’s final home game, as Paul Heckingbottom’s Preston North End visit Bramall Lane.

Bindon suffered an ankle injury in Wednesday nights defat to Blackburn Rovers but commendably played on when he ordinarly would have come off, with United having already used their five subs. Phillips has not been seen since the home derby win over Wednesday, when he damaged a knee.

Both men have shown their commitment to the Blades in different ways, with Phillips’ buy-in to the Blades impressing coaching staff during his period on the sidelines. Bindon, meanwhile, has overcome a poor start to his United career and will return to Forest this summer with the best wishes of everyone at United.

Not all of United’s loan players this season have had the same impact and speaking ahead of the North End clash, boss Wilder said of Bindon: “Yeah, he's out for tomorrow. He’s gone for a scan and he rolled his ankle.

“I've got to say, his attitude to staying on was first class. It speaks lot about the boy personally in that situation. We were obviously on top of the game and trying to get back into it after a really, really disappointing first half.

“And he was part of that revival. He really should have gone off, but he didn't. And yeah, he rolled his ankle. We're hopeful that he'll be available for next Saturday.”

United travel to Derby County on the final day of the season next weekend, and hope that Manchester City loan man Phillips will be on the teamsheet. “He’s working away this week. So we’ll see what happens for next Saturday.”

Andre Brooks, Sydie Peck and Femi Seriki are in line for recalls after starting on the bench against Rovers through illness. “That’s the reason that Sydie didn’t start, and Brooksy and Femi. So we had to deal with that, but obviously we didn't deal with it very well.

“Our Achilles’ heel has been the inconsistency of the team. Consistently inconsistent. And I think that's what we're all striving for, especially here in performance, attitude and results.

“There are always challenges, but this by far for me is the biggest challenge. That isn't deflecting; we understood the situation, what we were coming into [in September, when he replaced Ruben Selles at the helm.

“I was delighted to get the call and we've gone through that. A massive challenge for the owners, of course. A big challenge for me and the staff and challenging for the supporters as well because of where we were and what's happened this season.

“I will say it’s the highs and lows of supporting a football club. It doesn't always go to plan. It always doesn't give you what you want it to give you. And you have to live it. You have to take the pain and you have to come fighting back.

“And there's no doubt in my opinion that we will come fighting back. But personally, it’s been a huge challenge and we'll review it. We'll go through it. And we'll definitely try and get something out of the last two games.”