A number of injuries are plaguing Sheffield United ahead of this weekend’s Premier League matchup against Manchester City.
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Up to 10 players for the Blades could be out for the match against the champions at Bramall Lane, with the health of six players still in question.
Following his absence due to an injury from last week’s trip to Nottingham Forest, Paul Heckingbottom will be hoping George Baldock is available. He said after the game that “George had a slight problem with his calf that we didn’t want to risk.”
Ollie McBurnie, the striker who missed Sheffield United’s first two games of the season due to an ankle injury, might also return. Heckingbottom referred to him as “another one who missed pre-season” on Saturday. He remarked, “I’ve waited this long; I’ll wait another game,” and as you would expect, there was stiffness and tightness.
All three players are questionable for Sunday’s game versus City because Anis Slimane is also dealing with a hamstring issue, Max Lowe has an ankle issue, and Daniel Jebbison has been dealing with a groin ailment recently. Ismaila Coulibaly, a midfielder, could be a possibility for Heckingbottom this weekend after returning to the Under-21 team during the week and playing for an hour while he recovers from a knee injury.
Jayden Bogle is unlikely to be involved as he missed all of pre-season and the losses to Crystal Palace and Forest through injury, while Rhys Norrington-Davies, John Fleck, and Rhian Brewster are longer-term issues.
City don’t have as many issues, but there will be one noteworthy omission for the journey to Yorkshire on Sunday. Since Pep Guardiola had back surgery last week and is expected to continue his recovery in Barcelona, Junma Lillo will be in charge at Bramall Lane.
Kevin De Bruyne, who is sidelined until the new year with a hamstring injury, and John Stones, who has a knock that will prevent him from playing until the September international break, won’t be available for the match for the 57-year-old.
But Bernardo Silva is anticipated to come back. The Portugal international, who signed a contract extension on Wednesday, missed the previous two games due to an injury, but by the weekend he ought to be well again.
Doubt: Lowe, Baldock, Coulibaly, Slimane, Jebbison, McBurnie (Sheffield Utd); Silva (City) Ruled out: Norrington-Davies, Bogle, Fleck, Brewster (Sheffield Utd); Stones, De Bruyne (City).
