Manager Chris Wilder has been previewing this weekend’s clash against Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich Town.
Sheffield United host the side at Bramall Lane and Wilder told the Official Site as he met with the media for his pre game press conference that although he hopes to have a full group to select from in the coming weeks, we continue to have injury concerns for this game.
‘George Baldock misses out, but should be fine for the Reading game next week. His injury isn’t as bad as first feared so that’s positive news. But Kieron Freeman is available so that soothes the pain of losing George for a couple of weeks I suppose. I’m not one to play tricks, we’ve been playing well so everyone probably knows there won’t be many changes to our team.’
Wilder went on to say.
‘We’ve come through a difficult period because the players we’ve missed has weakened us and given us less options, but the performances and results have been outstanding. I’ve said it since the season started, I’ll be delighted when we have a fully fit squad to choose from and we’re getting closer to it, so that’s good news for everyone. Ched Evans has had his ankle cleaned up. He is non-weight bearing at the moment, so he will out for the foreseeable future.’
As for Ipswich more specifically, he went on to say.
‘Mick McCarthy is a fantastic manager and there will be a good, honest battle between our staff and theirs and on the pitch, both sets of players will give it and take it. It will be a proper football match. Just like at Forest, it will be competitive, like when Basham tackled their left-back, there was no rolling round, winking at people and trying to get people sent off and that’s what we want to see. There has to be a professionalism about it and I’m not saying teams shouldn’t be cute and streetwise but there is a line and it shouldn’t be crossed, like it has been at times this season.’
He added.
‘My players compete and run around and Mick’s teams have always done so. Richard Stearman has got a hell of a lot of respect for him. They were written off at the start of the season after a tough campaign last year, but Mick has had a great career and they’ve come bouncing back and I’m not surprised at all.’
