Sheffield United will continue their preparations ahead of their first South Yorkshire derby of the season against Rotherham United this Saturday without defender Jack O’Connell.
The former Brentford and Rotherham United defender hasn’t played a competitive fixture since 21st September 2020, in a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa, almost two years ago after he suffered a knee injury which he has since undergone surgery twice.
O’Connell played five times for the Millers whilst on a 6-months loan spell from Blackburn Rovers, joining in July 2012, where the New York Stadium club handed the defender his Football League debut on 24th November in a 1-0 victory at Exeter City.
There has been no indication since that the defender is likely to return to the beautiful game with Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom, yesterday, explaining that the 28-year-old has been putting his sports science knowledge to good use as well as working on his recovery.