Sheffield United boss hoping for some rare positive injury news ahead of Arsenal clash
Sheffield United are hopeful of a double injury boost ahead of Monday night’s clash with title-chasing Arsenal as boss Chris Wilder moves a step closer to his big fitness wish. The Blades chief has been vocal about his desire to have tough injury selections, which have been denied him by a spate of recent injury worries.
But the options at his disposal against Mikel Arteta’s in-form side are set to be boosted by the returns of defender George Baldock and forward Ben Brereton Diaz. The on-loan Chile international striker has not played since United’s 5-0 defeat to Aston Villa on February 3 after suffering a hamstring injury that derailed the progress that saw him net twice in his first two Premier League games since arriving on loan from Villareal.
Baldock, meanwhile, has been missing since December 30’s defeat at Manchester City, and his return to fitness will give Wilder a big headache at right wing-back, with Jayden Bogle making the shirt his own in Baldock’s absence. The return of Brereton Diaz will also present a decision in terms of formation; a 4-3-3 formation would appear to best suit his role as a wide forward coming in off the left, but Wilder has returned to a more familiar 3-5-2 shape in recent weeks with a host of forwards missing.
Oli McBurnie made his return from a recent calf injury as a late substitute in a defeat at Wolves on Saturday, while Wilder will hope for positive news with fellow forward Cameron Archer ahead of the Arsenal clash, with the former Aston Villa man missing recently with an issue of the same muscle. Arteta, Wilder’s opposite number at the Emirates, also received some big fitness boosts ahead of Monday evening’s televised clash at Bramall Lane.
Gabriel Jesus returned to the matchday squad as an unused substitute in the Gunners’ 4-1 victory over Newcastle, while Fabio Vieira’s three-month absence had ended days earlier. Midfielder Thomas Partey is closing in on a return after months on the sidelines, and defender Oleksandr Zinchenko could also come back into the fold at Bramall Lane after his own recent absence.
