Speaking on The Roar Podcast, Sheffield Star journalist James Shield discussed what Sheffield United’s potential team selection could be for this evening’s Championship fixture, with Billy Sharp being ruled out with an ankle injury.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side have had a mixed start to the campaign, having taken four points from three games, as well as being knocked out in the first round of the Carabao Cup and earning a point from their most recent fixture in a 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough.
With the club looking to challenge for promotion to the Premier League after being relegated from the top flight in 2021, the club must be looking at taking all three points when new boys Sunderland visit Bramall Lane tonight.
And Shield believes there could be ‘one or two changes’ with Sharp suffering an ankle injury at the weekend, ruling the striker out of the game.
He said: “I think there’ll be maybe one or two changes. I don’t expect there to be a whole raft of changes, though, to be honest.
“I think they’ve got a few injuries, people like Enda Stevens being out; people like Tommy Doyle, who they signed on loan from Manchester City just coming back from an injury that he sustained in pre-season.
“I don’t see many changes to the core of the side, I think potentially where there could be some is at the top end of the pitch.
“Obviously, as I’ve said, there is going to be one in attack, and it’ll be interesting to see who Paul [Heckingbottom] brings in to replace Billy Sharp.”
TIF Thoughts on Shield’s comments…
We believe that the fans of the Blades will be disappointed that Sharp will be unable to feature in this evening’s fixture, with the 36-year-old being an experienced presence on the pitch for his hometown club.
It will be interesting to see who replaces the veteran striker, with Rhian Brewster being the most likely candidate as the former Liverpool man replaced Sharp in the Middlesbrough fixture last weekend.
Therefore, we think that judging on the substitutions made on Sunday, Brewster could be the most likely candidate to take Sharp’s spot in the starting XI tonight, although Oli McBurnie could also be considered by Heckingbottom.